
Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Chikungunya physical examination
Introduction
Overview
Overview
Chikungunya usually presents with clinical signs such as fever, skin rashes, and joint swelling with effusions that can be detected during a physical examination.
Physical Examination
Physical Examination
Fever
The disease is characterized by an acute onset of high fever, typically more than 39°C (102°F).
Skin
- Maculopapular rash
- Nasal blotchy erythema
- Freckle-like pigmentation over centro-facial area
- Flagellate pigmentation on face and extremities
- Lichenoid eruption and hyperpigmentation in photodistributed areas
- Multiple aphthous-like ulcers over scrotum, crural areas and axilla.
- Lymphedema in acral distribution (bilateral/unilateral)
- Multiple ecchymotic spots (children)
- Vesiculobullous lesions (infants)
- Subungual hemorrhage
- Photo urticaria
- Acral urticaria
Joints
- Polyarthralgia usually symmetric and often occur in hands and feet
- Periarticular swelling and joint effusion in knees.
Gallery Adapted from Preparedness and Response for Chikungunya Virus: Introduction in the Americas. PAHO © 2011.[1]
Gallery Adapted from Preparedness and Response for Chikungunya Virus: Introduction in the Americas. PAHO © 2011.[1]
Acute Disease
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Edematous polyarthritis of the hands
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Erythema that blanches with pressure
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Periarticular swelling and joint effusion in knees
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Joint effusion in right knee
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Arthritis in left hand
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Maculopapular rash in trunk and extremities
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Maculopapular rash in extremities, including palms
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Bullous lesions in infant leg
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Infant with maculopapular rash, petechial spots and erythema of upper and lower limbs associated with edema of the extremities
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Maculopapular rash in the trunk
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Maculopapular rash in the feet
Subacute and Chronic Disease
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End of the acute stage. Swollen hands and fine desquamation
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Tenosynovitis in hands
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Tenosynovitis in ankle
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Elbow hygroma
References
References
- ↑ Preparedness and response for Chikungunya virus introduction in the Americas. Washington, DC: Pan American Health Organization CDC, Center for Disease Control and Prevention. 2011. ISBN 978-92-75-11632-6.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Alejandro Lemor, M.D. [2], Alonso Alvarado, M.D. [3]


















