Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) complicated with post-viral arthritis
Authors
Isabel Fragata; Ana Filipa Mourão;
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was reported in Europe in the beginning of February 2020. Typical symptoms included fever, cough and dyspnea, and not much was known about the clinical evolution of the disease. Herein, we report a case of a late complication of COVID-19 infection in a 41-year-old female. The patient presented with a 4-day history of myalgia, low fever, rhinorrhea and loss of smell. COVID-19 was confirmed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The patient recovered with conservative treatment, and PCR for COVID-19 turned negative after 5 weeks. However, at 4 weeks after the beginning of the viral symptoms, the patient developed severe arthralgia of some interphalangeal joints of the hands, that lasted for 4 weeks. Laboratory workup revealed no significant changes, and the symptoms resolved with a short course of oral steroids. Reactive viral arthritis might be a late complication of COVID-19.
Isabel Fragata
Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Central
Ana Filipa Mourão
Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Ocidental, EPE, Hospital Egas Moniz EPE
Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Central
Ana Filipa Mourão
Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Ocidental, EPE, Hospital Egas Moniz EPE