Overview
Arthritis following helminthiasis refers to musculoskeletal manifestations that can occur secondary to parasitic infections, particularly in populations with a history of or current helminth exposure. These arthritic conditions may arise due to immune responses triggered by the presence of helminths 2.Diagnosis
Eosinophilia: Elevated eosinophil count often indicates parasitic infection 2.
Tropical Exposure History: Assess patient history for potential exposure to endemic areas 2.
Parasitological Investigation: Stool samples and other relevant specimens for helminth detection 2.
Clinical Symptoms: Evaluate for arthralgia, arthritis, and other systemic symptoms 2.Management
Anthelmintic Therapy: Treatment with appropriate anti-helminthic drugs based on identified parasite (specific drugs and doses not detailed in provided abstracts) 2.
Symptomatic Relief: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for managing arthritis symptoms 2.
Immunomodulatory Support: Consider immunomodulatory therapies if autoimmune overlap is suspected, though specific recommendations are not provided 2.Special Populations
Migrants: Higher prevalence of undiagnosed helminth infections; thorough evaluation including eosinophil count and parasitological tests recommended 2.Key Recommendations
Implement thorough diagnostic protocols including eosinophil count and parasitological investigations for patients with suspected helminthiasis and musculoskeletal symptoms (Evidence: Moderate 2).
Treat identified helminth infections with appropriate anti-helminthic agents to potentially alleviate associated arthritic symptoms (Evidence: Moderate 2).
Consider the unique risk in migrant populations and tailor diagnostic approaches accordingly (Evidence: Moderate 2).References
1 Hamory J, Miguel E, Walker M, Kremer M, Baird S. Twenty-year economic impacts of deworming. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2021. link
2 Smith PJ, Theis B, McCartney S, Brown M. Republished research: Helminths: an unrecognised disease burden prevalent among migrants in the gastroenterology clinic. Postgraduate medical journal 2012. link