Monkey Fever Symptoms: The death of a 29-year-old youth due to Kyasanur Forest Disease i.e. Monkey Fever in Karnataka has again drawn attention to this disease. This disease often does not come into discussion until the situation becomes serious. The youth, a resident of Thirathahalli taluk, died during treatment at a hospital in Udupi district on January 28.

Health department commissioner Gurudutta Hegde told TOI that this case was unusual and unfortunate. Generally, if KFD is identified within a week of infection, the patient’s chances of survival are almost 100 percent. He said that as soon as the symptoms appeared, the authorities immediately took the patient to the hospital, within a day KFD was confirmed and referral was also made in time. Till a few days ago, his condition was stable, but suddenly his health deteriorated.

How does monkey fever spread?

Dr Aishwarya R told TOI that despite the name, monkey fever does not spread directly from monkeys to humans. This disease is spread through a special type of wild tick, Haemaphysalis spinigera. Apart from this, animals like squirrels and rats can also be sources of infection.

Infection in humans occurs when a tick bites or you come in contact with sick or dead infected monkeys. The good thing is that this disease does not spread from person to person. Generally its cases start from October-November and are seen most between January and April.

Due to which reasons the risk increases?

According to the doctor, handling animals without protection, going to forests, or living in areas where infected monkeys have died, all increase the risk of KFD.

What are the symptoms of monkey fever?

Symptoms of KFD usually appear within 3 to 8 days. It starts with severe chills and severe headache. after this-

• bleeding from nose, throat and gums
• low blood pressure
• Low platelet and blood count

In some cases neurological symptoms may also appear, such as-

• vomiting and nausea
• muscle stiffness
• mental confusion
• shudder
• poor eyesight
• severe headache and decreased reflexes

How deadly is KDK?

The mortality rate in this disease is considered to be between 2 to 10 percent, depending on how early the disease is caught and how quickly treatment is started. Most patients recover completely if they get timely treatment.

prevention is the best cure

At present there is no specific treatment for monkey fever. In treatment, the patient is given IV fluids, bleeding is controlled and complete rest is advised. Eating a protein-rich diet and drinking enough water is also considered beneficial.

Also read: Plan to make India a global health center, know how big will be the country’s health budget?

Disclaimer: This information is based on research studies and expert opinion. Do not consider this as a substitute for medical advice. Before adopting any new activity or exercise, please consult your doctor or relevant specialist.

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