Key Takeaways
In cases of acute arthritis, it is crucial to consider infectious causes, particularly viral infections. This recommendation was made by a team of rheumatologists led by Dr Matthias Wahle, head and senior physician in the Department of Internal Medicine at University Hospital Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany, based on the case of a 59-year-old woman.
The Patient and Her History
The patient presented with acute joint pain that primarily affected her hands and feet. According to Wahle, the pain became so severe that she could barely move. Before symptom onset, she travelled to the Dominican Republic, where she experienced high fever (39 °C), arthralgia, and myalgia.
Upon returning, her arthralgia worsened, prompting her to seek medical attention at a local hospital. However, extensive serum diagnostics for…