Subacute polyarticular arthralgias · swelling of the ankles and right knee · recent travel to the Dominican Republic · Dx?

J Fam Pract. 2019 Apr;68(3):171;172;174.

Abstract

A 78-year-old woman with a history of anxiety and hypertension presented to our family medicine residency practice in Massachusetts with subacute polyarticular arthralgias that had been present for 2 months. She complained of pain and swelling of both ankles and the right knee. She noted that her symptoms had started on a recent trip to the Dominican Republic, where she developed generalized joint pain and a fever that lasted 1 to 2 weeks and subsequently resolved with the lingering polyarthralgias. She denied any rash, constitutional symptoms, photosensitivity, headaches, photophobia, or history of tick bite. Physical examination revealed normal vital signs, notable warmth and swelling of the bilateral ankles that was worse on the right side, and swelling of the right knee with effusion-but no tenderness-to palpation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Ankle Joint / physiopathology
  • Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / blood
  • Arthralgia / diagnosis*
  • Arthralgia / drug therapy
  • Arthralgia / etiology*
  • Blood Chemical Analysis
  • Chikungunya Fever / complications
  • Chikungunya Fever / diagnosis*
  • Chikungunya virus / isolation & purification*
  • Dominican Republic
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Knee Joint / physiopathology
  • Physical Examination / methods
  • Risk Assessment
  • Travel*
  • United States

Substances

  • Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic