Post Viral Arthritis

What is Post Viral Arthritis?

About

The development of acute onset arthritis or arthralgia due to a viral infection.

Early systemic inflammatory arthritis can be difficult to differentiate from viral arthritis and should be actively considered in all patients.(1)

- Medical diagnosis by a general physician/rheumatologist is required for confirmation.
- Affects both men and women.
- Serological testing and monitoring of IgM and IgG levels in necessary.
- It is physically discomforting and painful.
As the name suggests, viral arthritis is caused a variety of viruses that infect a person. The common underlying viral infections causing this type of arthritis are mumps, measles, and rubella (MMR) virus, hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV), hepatitis A, enterovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, adenovirus, parvovirus B19, chikungunya (CHIKV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Viral arthritis mimics symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, and hence, it is difficult to differentiate between the two.
Ages affected - Age is not a major factor in case of viral arthritis as it is dependent on the presence of viral pathogens in one’s body.

Symptoms

Partially self-diagnosable
Symptoms include sudden onset of pain in joints because of inflammation or swelling; hence, it is crucial to visit a doctor.

People may experience
Pain - Mild to severe pain in the joints.
Swelling - Redness, warmth, and/or swelling near the affected joint.
Uneasiness - Fever, shivering, chills, the stiffness of joints, and skin rashes.

Treatment

Arthritis caused by various viral infections is usually self-limiting and only requires symptomatic treatment.

Medications: NSAIDs are usually prescribed to treat the symptoms.

Specialist: If the situation persists, it is advisable to consult a specialist. At mfine, modern techniques are used to help patients recover soon. Contact today!