A patient with a parasitic disease may develop arthritis or arthralgia.
Parasites that may be associated with arthritis or arthralgia:
(1) visceral larva migrans due to Toxocara canis
(2) microfilaria
(3) Dracunculus
Mechanisms:
(1) direct involvement of joint and joint cavity
(2) immune complex formation
Clues to diagnosis:
(1) eosinophilia in joint fluid
(2) chylous joint fluid
(3) microfilaria in joint fluid
(4) parasitic antigen in joint fluid
The diagnosis requires exclusion of other conditions associated with arthritis or arthralgia such as autoimmune disease and viral hepatitis.
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Specialty: Immunology/Rheumatology, Infectious Diseases
