CANNABIDIOL AS AN ADJUVANT THERAPY IN THE MANAGEMENT OF POST-CHIKUNGUNYA INFLAMMATORY PAIN

Abstract

Chikungunya virus infection is associated, in a significant proportion of affected individuals, with the development of persistent inflammatory musculoskeletal pain, resulting in negative impacts on functionality and quality of life. Conventional therapeutic approaches used to manage this condition show limited long-term effectiveness, which has encouraged the investigation of adjuvant therapies capable of modulating the underlying inflammatory response. In this context, cannabidiol has attracted scientific interest due to its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties described in different models of inflammatory and arthritic pain. This study aimed to critically analyze the available scientific evidence on the use of cannabidiol as an adjuvant therapy in the treatment of persistent inflammatory pain associated with Chikungunya virus infection. This qualitative study was conducted as a narrative and analytical literature review, based on searches in the PubMed, SciELO, and ScienceDirect databases, covering publications from the last ten years. The findings indicate that, although there are no clinical studies specifically evaluating the use of cannabidiol in post-Chikungunya inflammatory pain, evidence from other chronic inflammatory conditions demonstrates consistent analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, supporting its biological plausibility as an adjuvant therapy. It is concluded that cannabidiol presents therapeutic potential in the management of persistent inflammatory pain; however, its clinical application in this specific context should be interpreted with caution, and well-designed clinical trials are required to confirm its efficacy and safety.