Chikungunya Virus–Induced Rheumatoid Arthritis: An Infrequent Sequela in Males

Abstract

Chikungunya is a viral disease transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes of the genus Aedes (A. aegypti and A. albopictus). The disease occurs in Asia, Africa, and the Indian subcontinent. In recent decades, the vectors have spread to Europe and the Americas. The clinical presentation may involve two phases: acute and chronic. The former is characterized by headache, back pain, myalgia, conjunctivitis, arthralgia, and a pruritic maculopapular rash, which is observed in 40–50% of cases. The chronic phase lasts for more than three months and is characterized by joint stiffness and persistent pain that can endure for up to three years. This article aims to illustrate, through images, the impact of this virus on the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue, with an emphasis on its inflammatory manifestations. In cases of chronic inflammatory polyarthritis, a history of arboviral infection should always be investigated; such cases should not be dismissed as simple "post-viral arthralgia" that requires no specialized follow-up.