What to eat when you have chikungunya

Fever, joint pain and muscle aches can make shopping, cooking and eating feel difficult. A reduced appetite for a short time is common during an acute infection, but your body still needs fluids and some energy. Food does not remove the chikungunya virus, and no specific food has been shown to cure the infection. The practical aim is to prevent dehydration and keep meals manageable while your symptoms settle.

If nausea is present, bland foods may be easier than rich or heavily spiced dishes. If chewing or preparing food is tiring, soft foods and ready-to-eat options can help. Consider asking someone you trust to assist with meals, especially if joint pain limits movement.

Take frequent sips of water, oral rehydration solution, clear soup or other non-alcoholic drinks. If vomiting or diarrhoea is reducing your intake, an oral rehydration solution can help replace water and salts; follow the product instructions. Do not wait until you feel very thirsty.

When you can eat, try porridge, rice, potatoes, toast, yoghurt, eggs, beans, lentils, soup, fruit or cooked vegetables. Add a source of protein when possible, such as eggs, dairy, beans, lentils, fish or chicken. Eat little and often rather than forcing a large meal. Avoid alcohol, which can worsen dehydration and interact with medicines. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before taking pain medicines; dengue can resemble chikungunya, and some medicines may be unsuitable until it has been excluded.

Seek urgent medical help if you cannot keep fluids down, pass very little urine, become unusually sleepy or confused, have trouble breathing, develop severe weakness, fainting, persistent vomiting, or any unusual bleeding. A high or continuing fever, worsening pain, or symptoms that are not improving also deserve clinical assessment. Chikungunya and dengue can overlap in their early symptoms, so do not self-treat with aspirin or anti-inflammatory pain medicines unless a clinician confirms they are appropriate.

Arrange a GP Consultation if you are pregnant, older, caring for a young child, or living with a long-term condition and you develop fever, joint pain or muscle aches. A clinician can assess hydration, review medicines and decide whether testing or follow-up is needed.

Ask which pain reliever is suitable for you, how to recognise dehydration, whether you need testing for dengue or another infection, and what to do if your appetite or joint pain does not improve. Tell the clinician about pregnancy, long-term conditions and every medicine or supplement you take.