Physical Therapy and Hydrotherapy in Patient Diagnosed With Rheumatoid Arthritis Post Chikungunya

Abstract

BACKGROUND Chikungunya is an arbovirus caused by the Chikungunya virus (CHIKV). The symptoms are acute onset fever, joint and muscle pain, headache, nausea and fatigue. These symptoms usually disappear after two weeks, but a percentage of patients has joint involvement for months. It is precisely in these cases that point to the relationship between chikungunya and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The inflammatory stimulus caused by chikungunya can act as a trigger in people with genetic predisposition for the development of RA.