D. Strong1, L. Photo2, F. Lynch2, S. Gupta2, D. McColl2, C. Meehan2, A. Yazdabadi2
Chikungunya is a mosquito borne virus first identified in 1952 in Tanganyika Africa. Although initially confined to Africa it has since spread to Asia and other countries where the vector mosquito resides, such as Australia (Northern Queensland) are now also at risk. Chikungunya is generally a self-limiting viral illness, with a spectrum of cutaneous findings in addition to the systemic symptoms.
We present a 22 year old female returned traveller from urban Vietnam with Fitzpatrick type II skin who presented to the emergency department of our institution with localised areas of hyper pigmentation and non specific maculopapular eruption weeks after resolution of systemic symptoms. She was subsequently diagnosed with Chikungunya. Chikungunya is an important diagnosis to consider in returned travellers from endemic areas presenting with cutaneous eruptions with a history of recent viral symptoms and in particular unexplained hyperpigmentation.