RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Chikungunya arthritis
JF Clinical Medicine
JO Clin Med
FD Royal College of Physicians
SP 381
OP 385
DO 10.7861/clinmed.2019-0035
VO 19
IS 5
A1 Himanshu Pathak
A1 Mithun C Mohan
A1 Vinod Ravindran
YR 2019
UL http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/19/5/381.abstract
AB The chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection epidemic has emerged as a significant public health concern in the last 10–15 years, especially in Asian and south American countries. However, with ever-expanding tourism and migration, cases have now been reported in north America and Europe. CHIKV infection predominantly causes musculoskeletal symptoms with a chronic polyarthritis which may resemble autoimmune inflammatory arthritis. CHIKV infection should always be suspected in a returning traveller presenting with fever, skin rash and arthralgia. Though first reported in the last century, a series of epidemics since 2004 have substantially improved our knowledge. There has also been a significant increase in our understanding of the immunopathogenesis of chikungunya infection. This knowledge is being used in the development of new treatment strategies and preventive measures. In this narrative review, we discuss some of the recent advances in the epidemiology, immunopathogenesis, and management of CHIKV arthritis.