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.
Translated title of the contribution | Chikungunya, emerging disease in Latin America. : Description of the first cases in Chile |
---|---|
Original language | Spanish |
Pages (from-to) | 413-419 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Revista Chilena de Infectologia |
Volume | 35 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Aug 2018 |
Externally published | Yes |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2018, Sociedad Chilena de Infectologia. All rights reserved.
Keywords
- Chikungunya
- Chile
- arthropathy
- clinical cases
- travel medicine
- arthralgia