Infection and musculoskeletal conditions: Viral causes of arthritis.

Several viruses cause postinfectious arthritis. The disease is a typical manifestation of arthritogenic alphaviruses, rubella virus and human parvovirus B19. In addition, arthritis is not uncommon after infection by HIV, cytomegalovirus, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, or Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Also prolonged arthritis may result from viral infections, particularly with alphaviruses and human parvovirus B19. Viruses such as EBV and B19 may have significant roles in initiating chronic arthropathies, which in some cases may be indistinguishable from rheumatoid arthritis.