Autor(es): Ahrenstorf G, Burkhardt O, Witte T, Stoll M, Schmidt R E

Resumo: A 27-year-old man was admitted to our hospital, two days after returning from a vacation in Mauritius, with fever, chills, headache - myalgia, as well as arthritis of the legs. He had a temperature of 38.6 C - painful swellings of both talocalcanean joints. Laboratory studies revealed leukopenia, lymphopenia - thrombopenia, as well as a slight elevation of transaminases - serum bilirubin. Diagnostic tests for malaria were negative, as were tests for antibodies against Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, leptospirosis, dengue, chikungunya - hepatitis viruses, legionella, streptococcus - HIV. But PCR with chikungunya virus RNA was positive, establishing the diagnosis of acute chikungunya. All symptoms disappeared on administration of analgesics - antipyretics. But after two days a maculopapular rash on the trunk - limbs was noted: it responded well to the application of clemastine. The patient was discharged from hospital three days after admission. Chikungunya virus belongs to the family of alphaviruses - is common in Southeast Asia - Africa. It can be transmitted to humans by bites of the Aedes mosquitoes. Symptoms are similar to those of dengue - consist of fever, headache, arthralgia, myalgia - conjunctivitis. After two or three days these symptoms subside - a maculopapular rash appears. The fever may return. Arthralgia can persist over weeks - even months. While the diagnosis is normally established by antibody tests, these may be negative in early stages of the disease. when the diagnosis can be made by PCR. Treatment is symptomatic with analgesics - antipyretics.

Palavras-Chave: Fever; Chikungunya virus; Tropical diseases

Imprenta: Deutsche Medizinische Wochenschrift, v. 133, n. 9, p. 406-408, 2008

Identificador do Objeto Digital: 10.1055/s-2008-1046727

Descritores: Chikungunya virus - Pathogenesis; Chikungunya virus - RNA; Chikungunya virus - Antibodies; Chikungunya virus - Viral infections; Chikungunya Virus - Virus; Chikungunya virus - Chikungunya fever; Chikungunya virus - Dengue; Chikungunya virus - Rash maculopapular

Data de Publicação: 2008