eMedicine Specialties > Rheumatology > Infectious Arthritis
Viral Arthritis: Follow-up
Updated: Aug 1, 2008
Follow-up
Further Inpatient Care
Individuals with viral arthritis are usually treated in an outpatient setting. Order physical therapy as indicated. Follow-up care may be conducted by primary care physicians and rheumatologists. If the patient's condition proves refractory, appropriate specialists can be consulted.
Further Outpatient Care
Patients can be seen by their primary care physicians.
Inpatient & Outpatient Medications
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
- Acetaminophen
Deterrence/Prevention
- Vaccination
- Safe sex
- Clean food and drinking water
- Education
Complications
Rarely, viral infections cause damage to the joints.
Patient Education
For excellent patient education resources, visit eMedicine's Arthritis Center and Bacterial and Viral Infections Center.
Miscellaneous
Medicolegal Pitfalls
- Failure to diagnose septic arthritis: This can lead to permanent damage to the joint and medicolegal liability. If septic arthritis is considered in the differential diagnoses, obtaining a sample of joint fluid for culture is essential.
- Failure to diagnose and appropriately treat cryoglobulinemic syndromes secondary to HCV infection (ie, with antiviral therapy)
More on Viral Arthritis |
| Overview: Viral Arthritis |
| Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Viral Arthritis |
| Treatment & Medication: Viral Arthritis |
Follow-up: Viral Arthritis |
| Multimedia: Viral Arthritis |
| References |
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References
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Tan LC, Mowat AG, Fazou C, et al. Specificity of T cells in synovial fluid: high frequencies of CD8(+) T cells that are specific for certain viral epitopes. Arthritis Res. 2000;2(2):154-64. [Medline].
Ytterberg SR. Viral arthritis. Curr Opin Rheumatol. Jul 1999;11(4):275-80. [Medline].
Naides SJ. parvoviruses. In: Specter S, Hodinka R L, Young SA. Clinical virology manual. 1. 3rd ed. New York: Elsevier science; 2000:487-500. [Full Text].
Stanley J Naides. Viral Arthritis. In: M C Hochberg,A Silman,J Smolen,M Weinblatt, M Weisman. RHEUMATOLOGY. Two. 3rd. Toronto: MOSBY , Elsevier Limited; 2003:1105-1113. [Full Text].
Further Reading
Keywords
viral arthritis, viral-induced arthritis, virus-induced arthritis, arthritis, chronic arthralgia, rheumatoid arthritis, RA, polyarticular arthritis, rheumatic disease, rheumatoid arthritis, hepatitis B virus, HBV, hepatitis C virus, HCV, hepatitis, parvovirus B19, B19 virus, parvovirus B-19, alphaviruses, alpha virus, alphavirus, retroviruses, retrovirus, rubella virus, Rubivirus, HIV, HIV-1, human T-lymphotropic virus 1, HTLV-1, Epstein-Barr virus, EBV, human immunodeficiency virus type 1, human immunodeficiency virus, HIV infection, HIV disease, erythema infectiosum, fifth disease
Follow-up: Viral Arthritis