Human parvovirus B19-associated arthritis in children

Human parvovirus B19 (HPV B19) infection has been associated with chronic joint complaints in adult patients. We now report 22 children with joint complaints associated with recent HPV B19 infection. These children had either erythema infectiosum or serologic evidence of recent infection. Twenty children had arthritis; two had arthralgias. Eleven children had associated constitutional symptoms. Laboratory findings were generally normal. The duration of joint symptoms was less than 4 months in 14 children; however, six children have had persistent arthritis for 2 to 13 months, which would fulfill criteria for the diagnosis of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Although HPV B19 is usually associated with acute arthritis of brief duration, in some children infection with HPV B19 may be associated with the development of chronic arthritis.