Rheumatoid arthritis after Chikungunya fever: a prospective follow-up study of 21 cases

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Abstract
In 2005–6, more than 1.5 million people in the Indian Ocean area were infected with Chikungunya fever. In Reunion Island, 38.3% of the population, approximately 300 000 people, were infected.1 Only 6% of the cases were asymptomatic. Chikungunya fever is a viral infection transmitted to humans by Aedes mosquitoes.2,3 Chikungunya infection usually causes a syndrome characterised by fever, headaches, chills, conjunctivitis, rash, myalgia and severe joint pain with or without swelling. Joint symptoms vary from polyarthralgia to symmetrical polyarthritis. The outcome is usually benign, but persistent joint pain and stiffness may occur.3,4,5,6,7,8 We report 21 cases …