Pogosta disease: clinical observations during an outbreak in the province of North Karelia, Finland.

Objective: To characterize the clinical picture of Pogosta disease.

Method: The data of 73 patients who had had Pogosta disease in 1981 and who then had been seen by a local physician in North Karelia were analysed.

Results: The main manifestations were fever (23%), rash (88%) and joint symptoms (93%). The joint symptoms in some patients lasted for several months and were severe enough to cause immobilization. The clinical picture was identical in those patients who had a definite serological diagnosis and those who did not have a detectable antibody response.

Conclusion: The symptoms of Sindbis virus-induced Pogosta discase consist of fever, rash and joint symptoms, whic may be severe and prolonged.