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Brazilian Journal of Clinical Medicine and Review

Health Review

Vol. 3 No. 1 (2025): January/December - 2025

Chronic post-Chikungunya arthritis: a systematic review of long-term therapeutic strategies in the adult population

DOI
https://doi.org/10.52600/2965-0968.bjcmr.2025.3.1.bjcmr28
Submitted
November 25, 2024
Published
2025-03-04

Abstract

Chikungunya is a tropical disease caused by the Chikungunya virus (CHIKV); an arbovirus transmitted by Aedes spp mosquitoes. CHIKV infection is characterized mainly by severe joint pain and myalgia, and presents the acute and chronic phases, the latter characterized by polyarthralgia, which can last for months or even years. The main objective of this research is to describe the alternatives of long-term management of chronic post-Chikungunya arthritis in adults through a systematic review of specialized literature. The databases used were: Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), the Virtual Health Library (VHL) and PUBMED (NCBI). The Rayyan Qatar Computing Research Institute program was used to manage the results and were structured in PRISMA flowcharts. After an exploratory, selective and analytical reading of all the studies was carried out, as well as the stratification of fragments that addressed the guiding question, resulting in a total of 8 articles used in the review. Current treatments focus on anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, physiotherapy, and psychological support, with methotrexate (MTX) being the most recommended pharmacological option. The review highlights the need to improve treatment and management strategies for post-Chikungunya chronic arthritis, in order to mitigate the associated morbidity and its impact on public health.

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