A 20-Year-Old-Army Private Presenting with Chronic Monarticular Arthritis

Abstract

A 20-year-old Asian active duty male soldier presented with chronic monarticular arthritis and a paucity of other symptoms. After multiple evaluations, the patient was eventually diagnosed with tuberculous arthritis without evidence of pulmonary tuberculosis infection. This case demonstrates the necessity of a high index of suspicion for chronic infectious causes of monarticular arthritis, particularly in those individuals at a greater risk of exposure to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Untreated, tuberculous arthritis can result in significant joint destruction and morbidity as demonstrated in this patient.