Extra-articular Manifestations of Chikungunya

• Published in: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
• Main Authors: Jobson Lopes de Oliveira, Igor Albuquerque Nogueira, J. Kennedy Amaral, Luciana Ribeiro Campos, Mariana Macêdo Militão Mendonça, Marília de Brito Ricarte, Luciano Pamplona de Góes Cavalcanti, Robert T. Schoen
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT) 2023
• Subjects: Chikungunya; Arbovirus infection; Cardiovascular abnormalities; Kidney diseases; Neurologic manifestations; Skin manifestations; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/0037-8682-0341-2023; https://doaj.org/article/dc2c2cd50607464e8b608c2f2d9be17a

ABSTRACT Chikungunya fever (CHIK) is a neglected tropical disease associated with chronic arthritis. CHIK is usually a self-limiting condition; however, extra-articular manifestations present as atypical illness in a minority of patients. These atypical features may mimic other conditions and potentially distract physicians from the true diagnosis. This review analyzes the evidence of many unusual extra-articular manifestations reported in cases of CHIK. Depending on the affected system, these unusual manifestations include encephalitis, myocarditis, acute interstitial nephritis, cutaneous manifestations, acute anterior uveitis, abdominal pain, and depression. In addition, coinfections and comorbidities may cause atypical illness and obscure the diagnosis. Further studies are required to clarify the pathophysiology and natural history of CHIK, as it remains a burdening condition. Exploring its atypical symptoms may be the missing scientific piece of this puzzle.