Rheumatology Service provides specialized care to patients with sequelae of Chikungunya

The Provincial Rheumatology Service of Sancti Spíritus is currently providing positive results for patients referred from primary healthcare who are experiencing chronic complications following chikungunya infection.

Dr. Lianet Oria Pérez, a rheumatology specialist, explained that although the official protocol for managing these cases is still being defined in the country, the majority of patients treated in the province are showing positive and encouraging progress.

“The Rheumatology Service at the Provincial Hospital has a total of six specialists based in Area 4. We offer consultations Monday through Friday, seeing patients who have passed the first 21 days of the arboviral infection and are now in the chronic phase of the disease. We conduct consultations, examine patients, and prescribe treatment, which generally includes general measures, analgesics, anti-inflammatories (if the patient has them), and steroids. In other cases, the treatment also depends on any comorbidities the patient may have.

“We assess patients with any chronic conditions they may have, determining whether or not they are well-controlled. Based on that, we evaluate the treatment.”

According to the specialist, this outcome reaffirms the commitment of the Sancti Spíritus health system to comprehensive care and the recovery of those facing long-term effects from the disease.