[Parasitic rheumatism]

Abstract

The joint manifestations of parasitic diseases are rare. They may be due to the presence of a parasite within one or severed joints, to involvement of a neighbouring joint, or distant involvement due to an immuno-allergic mechanism. The latter category constitutes what one may call parasitic rheumatism. The latter is characterised by arthropathies of inflammatory type with raised sedimentation rate, marked but inconstant hypereosinophilia, and total inefficacy of antirheumatic treatments. The diagnosis of parasitic rheumatism depends on these criteria, on the diagnosis of the parasitic disease in question, above all filariasis but also other parasitic diseases, and above all the great efficacy of specific anti-parasitic treatments.