Viral arthritis are very frequent and usually self limited to a few weeks. The most common pathophysiological mechanism is immune complexes deposit and not a direct invasion of the synovium. The typical clinical presentation is a peripheral and symmetrical polyarthritis, undistinguishable from other inflammatory arthritis. If virtually any virus can cause arthritis, it seems reasonable to limit investigations to the demonstration of the few viruses for which the therapy would be modified, namely hepatitis viruses and HIV. Serology remains the most common method to establish the diagnosis. From a therapeutic point of view, there is no specific treatment. Simple symptomatic measurements are sufficient.