Cecilia Perret1, Cecilia Vizcaya1, Thomas Weitzel2, Reinaldo Rosas3, Jeannette Dabanch3, Constanza Martínez4. 1. Departamento de Enfermedades Infecciosas e Inmunología Pedátricas, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile. 2. Laboratorio Clínico, Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Chile. 3. Hospital Militar, Santiago, Chile. 4. Laboratorio de Infectología y Virología Molecular, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Chikungunya (CHIK) was introduced in The Americas in 2013, spreading rapidly. In 2014, the first imported case was diagnosed in Chile. AIM: To identify patients with clinical suspicion of CHIK and describe their clinical and laboratory characteristics. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with suspected CHIK were enrolled. All were confirmed by PCR, IgM or IgG CHIK. A structured survey was applied, which included demographic questions, travel characteristics, clinical manifestations, and laboratory results. RESULTS: 21 patients were enrolled and CHIK was confirmed in 16, who were further analyzed; 12 were female (75%), average age 39 years (27-52). The Caribbean and South Americawere the most frequent sites of exposure. In 63%, the initial symptom was arthralgia. Most frequent symptoms were myalgias, malaise (both 100%), fever, and polyarthralgia (both 94%). The median duration of arthralgias was 90 days (3-262); in 53% arthralgias lasted ≥ 3 months. Main joints involved were ankles, hands, and wrists; 87% reported invalidating pain. Arthritis lasted longer in men than in women (p < 0.001). 38% of patients presented lymphopenia and one patient mild thrombocytopenia. Two patients required hospitalization, one with severe headaches, the other with acute pyelonephritis. CONCLUSIONS: Chikungunya should be suspected in returning travelers presenting with fever and severe polyarthralgia. Travelers to endemic areas should apply prevention measures to avoid mosquito bites.
BACKGROUND: Chikungunya (CHIK) was introduced in The Americas in 2013, spreading rapidly. In 2014, the first imported case was diagnosed in Chile. AIM: To identify patients with clinical suspicion of CHIK and describe their clinical and laboratory characteristics. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with suspected CHIK were enrolled. All were confirmed by PCR, IgM or IgG CHIK. A structured survey was applied, which included demographic questions, travel characteristics, clinical manifestations, and laboratory results. RESULTS: 21 patients were enrolled and CHIK was confirmed in 16, who were further analyzed; 12 were female (75%), average age 39 years (27-52). The Caribbean and South Americawere the most frequent sites of exposure. In 63%, the initial symptom was arthralgia. Most frequent symptoms were myalgias, malaise (both 100%), fever, and polyarthralgia (both 94%). The median duration of arthralgias was 90 days (3-262); in 53% arthralgias lasted ≥ 3 months. Main joints involved were ankles, hands, and wrists; 87% reported invalidating pain. Arthritis lasted longer in men than in women (p < 0.001). 38% of patients presented lymphopenia and one patient mild thrombocytopenia. Two patients required hospitalization, one with severe headaches, the other with acute pyelonephritis. CONCLUSIONS: Chikungunya should be suspected in returning travelers presenting with fever and severe polyarthralgia. Travelers to endemic areas should apply prevention measures to avoid mosquito bites.
Authors: Liziane Cristine Malaquias da Silva; Fernanda da Silva Platner; Lauany da Silva Fonseca; Virgílio Frota Rossato; Dian Carlos Pereira de Andrade; João de Sousa Valente; Susan Diana Brain; Elizabeth Soares Fernandes Journal: Pathogens Date: 2022-03-29
Authors: Hassan Ashktorab; Antonio Pizuomo; Nora Alma Fierro González; Edgar Daniel Copado Villagrana; María Evangelina Herrera-Solís; Graciela Cardenas; Daniela Zavala-Alvarez; Gholamreza Oskrochi; Eyitope Awoyemi; Folake Adeleye; Maryam Mehdipour Dalivand; Adeyinka O Laiyemo; Edward E Lee; Farshad Aduli; Zaki A Sherif; Hassan Brim Journal: Res Sq Date: 2021-01-08