Reactive Arthritis
Also known as Reiter’s Syndrome, reactive arthritis is the result of an infection in another body part. This is an inflammatory condition where the prime feature is the inflammation of the joints. However inflammation can also occur in different body parts including the eyes, skin, the genitals, the bladder, and the mucus membranes. Generally, a ‘reaction’ to an infection in gastrointestinal or genitourinary tract results in reactive arthritis.
Symptoms and signs of reactive arthritis are like come and go, and they disappear in a year. To treat this disease, various therapies and medication are given to eliminate the underlying infection.
Signs and Symptoms of Reactive Arthritis:
Mostly the sign and symptoms appear after days to week after the infection affects the susceptible person. These symptoms may appear and vanish over the period of week or months. Moreover, when the symptoms are less harsh, the disease can go undetected for many days.
Common sign and symptoms of Reactive arthritis:
• Swelling, stiffness and pain in the ankle joint, knee joint, hips and feet.
• Results in cystitis (inflammation of urogenital tract) which cause urinary frequency and burning sensation during urinal discharge from penis.
• Conjunctivitis (eye inflammation – redness in eye, sensitivity to light, pain and skewed vision)
• Uveitis (inner eye inflammation)
• Ulcers in mouth
• Rashes in skin which appear as thickened red spot or brown spots, scaling rashes on the hands and palms or soles of the feet, or a red scaling rash on the penis.
• Tenditis (inflammation of tendons), tenosynovitis (tendon sheaths)
• Chills and fever
• Loss in weight
• Sores appearing in the genital areas scrotum or on the shaft of penis. In women in the external areas of the genitals. They are actually blisters that break open and crust over.
• Enthesopathy (an inflammation conditions of the tendons attached to the bones)
• Pain and inflammation in the pelvic area or lower back.
Causes of Reactive Arthritis
Various bacteria are known to cause this disease. Many forms of reactive arthritis are based on the underlying bacteria causing the infection.
• Urogenital (genitourinary) reactive arthritis or uroarthritis
It occurs from the infections that originate in the vagina, penis urethra or bladder. The bacterium which generally results in the infection is called Chlamydia.
• Gastrointestinal (enteric) reactive arthritis
Also called enteroarthritis, this infection is because of something that was taken, for e.g. raw meat’s carrying bacteria. Such bacteria include shigella, salmonella, campylobacter, and yersinia.
Though bacteria results in reactive arthritis, this disease is not contagious. But, the bacteria can be passed from one human to another during sexual intercourse and food preparation. However, few people only develop reactive arthritis when exposed to these bacteria.
You should at once consult the doctor, if you find the sign and symptoms of reactive arthritis within yourself. The faster you treat yourself, the more helpful it will be for you to prevent further complications.
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