DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2016.v04i08.074

Pages: 3116-3119

The diagnosis of febrile acute polyarthritis is difficult given the multiple etiologies. The infectious origin is a diagnostic and therapeutic emergency. The purpose of this study is to determine the etiologic and evolutionary profile. This is a retrospective study concerning the records of patients hospitalized for acute febrile polyarthritis over a period of 10 years, using an information sheet including demographics, characteristics of arthritis, biological data and the final diagnosis. It was about 31 cases, including 21 women, mean age was 42 years [16-76 years]. Diagnoses were: infectious polyarthritis in 18 cases (58.1%) including 10 cases (32.27%) of gonococcal origin; a post-streptococcal arthritis in 4 cases (12.90%); a gout in 3 cases (9.7%); sarcoidosis in 2 cases (6.44%), one associated with Sweet's syndrome; lupus in one case (3.22%); the Sharp syndrom in one case (3.22%); a seronegative rheumatoid arthritis in one case (3.22%); the Still disease in one case (3.22%). All patients received antibiotic therapy. In 3 cases, we had to change to an empiric antibiotic therapy. The evolution was generally good except for one patient who died from septic shock pustular psoriasis. The acute febrile arthritis is a very common symptom requiring a better knowledge of different etiologies for a better management. The priority is to eliminate the septic emergency that could compromise the vital prognosis, especially as it is the most common.