reactive arthritis
Reactive arthritis is characterized by joint pain and swelling caused by an infection in another part of the body—mainly the intestines, genitals, and urinary system.
The knee joint, ankle and ankle joints are most often affected by reactive arthritis. In reactive arthritis, inflammation can also be seen on the eyes, skin, and urinary tract
Reactive arthritis is sometimes called Reiter's syndrome, although Reiter's syndrome is a specific type of reactive arthritis. In this syndrome, inflammation occurs mainly in the eyes and urethra, as well as in the joints
Reactive arthritis is not common Most of the time, signs and symptoms go away and come back, eventually clearing up in about 12 months
Reactive arthritis develops due to an infection in another part of the body, often intestinal, genital, or urinary tract infections. You may not even notice the causative infection if it has minimal or no symptoms
Many bacteria cause reactive arthritis Most common:
- Chlamydia
- Salmonella
- Shigella
- Yersinia
- Campylobacter
Reactive arthritis is not contagious However, the bacteria that cause the condition can be spread sexually or through food Only a small percentage of people infected with the bacteria develop reactive arthritis
Signs and symptoms of reactive arthritis generally begin 1–3 weeks after infection These are:
- Pain and limitation of joint movement Joint pain in reactive arthritis is most common in the knees, ankles, and feet Pain in the heels, hips, and even the buttocks may develop
- Inflammation of the eye During reactive arthritis, many patients develop conjunctivitis
- Problems of the urinary tract Frequent urination and discomfort during urination develop due to reactive arthritis, inflammation of the prostate gland or cervix is also possible.
- fingers crossed In some cases, the fingers or toes become so thick that they resemble sausages
