Diagnostic challenges in chikungunya infection: Report of an atypical presentation

Abstract

Due in part to increasing global travel, chikungunya fever has emerged as a significant public health concern. With recent outbreaks in Caribbean nations and the first report of locally acquired infection in the United States, there is concern that we may see an increasing number of cases in Canada. As chikungunya fever shares many clinical similarities to other arthropod-borne illnesses such as dengue fever, clinical diagnosis is challenging. We report an atypical presentation of acute chikungunya fever in a man returning from travel to Haiti. Microbiologic diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, and public health implications will aid clinician preparedness for this emerging pathogen.