What is Reactive Arthritis?

Affecting the eyes, joints, and urethra, this is a group of inflammatory conditions. There can also be lesions on the mucus membranes and on skin from this condition. Cause is unknown but it appears more often in men under 40 years of age. Genes can make one more prone, and it can follow infections from Yersinia, Salmonella, Chlamydia, and Campylobacter.

Symptoms of Reactive Arthritis

Within days or weeks of the infection, urinary symptoms will start to appear. The next few weeks bring low-grade fever, arthritis, and conjunctivitis. Other signs include heel pain, joint pain in the large joints, low back pain, and achilles tendon pain. More symptoms can include ulcers on mouth, tongue or penis, skin lesions on soles and palms, eye pain, eye redness, and eye discharge. Lastly, there can be burning or stinging urination, urinary hesitancy, urinary urgency, penis pain, urethral discharge, skin inflammation or redness, incontinence, or male genital lesions.

Diagnosis

This condition is typically diagnosed from symptoms. Physical exams can show skin lesions and conjunctivitis. Other tests that can help with a diagnosis include urinalysis, sed rate, joint x-rays, c-reactive protein tests, and HLA-B27 antigen tests.

Treatment

Treatment consists of treating the infection and relieving symptoms. Some things will go away on their own. There can be pain relievers, antibiotics, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs given. There may be physical therapy involved to keep up muscle strength and help in moving.

In 50 percent of the cases the symptoms will return. The condition may be chronic and last a few weeks, a few months, or over a period of several years. Complications that may occur include uveitis, arrhythmias, and aortic insufficiency.

Source: A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia