Problem: Article: This virus is transmitted through mosquitoes and was recently declared as an emerging global health threat. How the virus affects the body is not fully known, however, chikungunya and dengue have almost identical symptoms and disease processes. Chikungunya infects the muscle cells of the body. From there, it reproduces until the cell dies, and then replicates and finds a new host cell to infect. The incubation period of the chikungunya is 1 to 12 days. Chikungunya usually attacks the muscles, joints, skin, connective tissues, and even the central nervous system. Because chikungunya is a systemic infection, it is usually accompanied by fever and skin rash. The skin rashes are almost identical to the rashes that are present in a case of dengue and is a result of damage to the blood vessels. Fever occurs as the body raises its temperature in an attempt to kill the infectious agent. As a consequence of the fever, you may suffer from a headache, nausea, and vomiting. Because the virus destroys cells in the muscles and joints, you will experience muscle weakness and joint pain. Joint and muscle pain can be severe and acute. Partial loss of taste is reported by many chikungunya patients. This happens because the virus attacks nerve endings on the tongue and desensitizes the taste buds. Acquiring an accurate diagnosis is very important to get the right treatment. A virus isolation is the most conclusive exam used to diagnose chikungunya. However, it takes 1 to 2 weeks before it is completed and should be done in a biosafety level 3 lab, which is not available in many developing countries where chikungunya is prevalent. The technique involves acquiring a blood sample from the patient and then introducing the virus to it. The blood sample will then be observed for specific responses. RT-PCR (Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction) makes the genes of chikungunya more pronounced and shows evidence of the disease. The result can be obtained in 1-2 days. An ELISA assay can be used to measure the levels of immunoglobin to identify the chikungunya virus. Results can be obtained within 2-3 days.
Summary: Understand what causes chikungunya. Recognize the signs and symptoms of chikungunya. Notice rash and fever. Take note of any muscle or joint pain. Recognize a loss of taste. Get a chikungunya diagnosis.

Problem: Article: If you cannot or don't want to attend an undergraduate program in computer science, you'll be pleasantly surprised at the availability of free coursework online. For example, you can sign up for computer science related courses on Coursera. You should also check out OpenCourseWare from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It is a goldmine of information for people who want to have access to computer science materials at an academic level without paying tuition. Depending on how much you already know, you can choose topics that are of interest to you and research them online or in the library. If you are just starting out, you will want to read books, journal articles, or websites devoted to topics like computer hardware, the internet, and basic computer programming. As you learn about these basic topics, you will find areas that seem especially interesting to you that you can investigate further. Some of these more advanced topics include security, cryptography, Turing Machines and the Halting Problem, set theory, operating systems, hardware architectures, semaphores and concurrency, computer networks and network protocols, and databases and information modeling. You can also view do an internet search for the complete list of recommended topics by Professor Matthew Might, who teaches computing at the University of Utah. Basic computer programming is simple and easy to learn, and is a great gateway to more computer science knowledge. Plus, it comes in handy on job applications to have a working knowledge of programming, even if you don't have technical instruction under your belt. There are a lot of different programming "languages," or systems that use unique codes. If you don't know where to start, Python is a nice language for beginners. It's intuitive and easy to learn. You can also consider C or Java. If you have tried imperative programming languages in the past, try learning functional languages such as Haskell. These are more advanced than the basic languages. Whatever approach you decide to take, you can do an internet search for articles or videos that will teach you all you need to know. In your search bar, type in the name of the programming method plus the words "beginner tutorial" (for example, "Java beginner tutorial").
Summary: Check out free online courses. Choose a topic to research. Try programming.

Problem: Article: Stay off your leg and do as little walking as possible. Keep the knee elevated above your heart while lying down. Prop the knee and foot on pillows or on the arm of the couch. Use crutches if it hurts to straighten the leg or to put weight on it. If you need crutches for more than a few days, you should see a medical professional because it may be something serious enough to require more than home care. Apply ice directly on the swollen part of your knee for 10-20 minutes. Do this 3 times a day to reduce the swelling. You can also use a frozen cold pack or a bag of frozen vegetables like peas instead of ice. If you have sustained an injury that results in a swollen knee, avoid placing heat on your knee. This includes hot packs, hot showers, or hot tubs. Wrap your knee in an elastic bandage to apply compression. This will help decrease the swelling. Try an elastic bandage with a fastener that sticks to the bandage so that you don't need clips. You can purchase a compression bandage at a local pharmacy. Be careful not to wrap your knee too tightly. If you notice any numbness, tingling, odd coloring, or increased pain, your bandage is wrapped too tightly. Massage at a very gentle rate may help increase blood flow to your knee. If anything hurts, refrain from massaging the painful area. Try an anti-inflammatory drug such as aspirin, acetaminophen, naproxen or ibuprofen - all are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). When taking this type of pain reliever, be sure to carefully follow dosing instructions on the label. You can also try a topical painkiller. Talk with your pharmacist for proper application. You can also try a patch that contains the analgesic lidocaine for pain relief.
Summary:
Rest your knee. Ice your knee. Avoid heat for the first 48 hours. Use a compression bandage. Gently massage your knee. Alleviate pain with an over-the-counter pain reliever.