10 Zika Virus Symptoms
Symptom #3: Joint Pain
Joint pain or arthralgias is one of the less common symptoms associated with Zika, but it’s certainly a real concern. The mechanism of viral arthralgias and arthritis is poorly understood.
Joint pain can affect the knees, wrists, elbows and even the small joint of hands and feet. Swelling of the joints can also occur (arthritis). Some people report this symptom to linger long after the other symptoms have subsided, whereas other people only experience it for a few days. Joint pain and arthritis affect between 73- 80 percent of patients during the acute stage (2007 review in The Lancet Infectious Diseases). In that study, 33% of patients (4 months later) still reported joint involvement. Ten percent of patients report complications lasting 3-5 years.
Since Zika has only been in the spotlight for a couple of years, more research and anecdotal evidence is needed to fully understand the scope of this symptom.
Advertisement
