A patient with filariasis caused by Wucheria bancrofti may develop a chylous arthritis.
Filaria species: Wucheria bancrofti
Clinical features:
(1) The patient presents with an acute monoarthritis of a joint in the lower extremity, usually the knee.
(2) The patient may complain of pain, fever and swelling.
(3) The joint fluid aspirate is a chylous effusion.
(4) Cultures of the joint fluid is sterile.
(5) The patient may have inguinal lymphadenopathy but the onset of the arthritis precedes lymphedema.
(6) No other diagnosis can explain the arthritis better.
The arthritis may recur and can become chronic.
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Specialty: Infectious Diseases
ICD-10: ,
