Acute monoarthritis and acute polyarthritis

Abstract

Several diseases, particularly non rheumatic, may present with acute arthritis. Gout and septic arthritis are typically monoarticular. The acute polyarticular pattern predominates in infectious diseases. Careful clinic history and physical examination are essential to the correct diagnosis of acute arthritis. Arthrocentesis is required to evaluate fully a patient with acute arthritis. The synovial fluid should be analyzed (routine synovianalysis) and cultured to perform a correct diagnosis.