Reactive Arthritis is a type of arthritis that develops in response to a bacterial or viral infection elsewhere in the body. At times, the joint inflammation may be accompanied by red eyes (conjunctivitis) & rash. The immune system reacts aberrantly to the infection in the gastrointestinal, urinary tract infection & attacks the joints, eyes & the skin.

Reactive arthritis refers to pain, stiffness, redness or swelling in a joint resulting from a previous infection. It most often occurs in the joints of the lower limbs (knees, ankles, toes), but can also occur in the upper limbs. Problems may be in the joints only or involve other body systems such as the eyes, skin muscles or tendons.

What causes reactive arthritis?

As mentioned, reactive arthritis is felt in part to be genetic. There are certain genetic markers that are far more frequent in patients with reactive arthritis than in the normal population. For example, the HLA-B27 gene is commonly seen in patients with reactive arthritis. Even in patients who have the genetic background that predisposes them to developing reactive arthritis, however, exposure to certain infections seem to be required to trigger the onset of the disease.

What Are the Effects?

Reiter's often begins following inflammation of the intestinal or urinary tract. It sets off a disease process involving the joints, eyes, urinary tract and skin. Many people have periodic attacks that last from three to six months. Some people have repeated attacks, which are usually followed by symptom-free periods.

How reactive arthritis is diagnosed

The diagnosis of reactive arthritis is based on the pattern of joint involvement and on the temporal association (when the arthritis occurs within one month of an infection). In the case of a gastrointestinal infection, a culture of the stool showing the presence of the bacteria prior to the arthritis is the best way of diagnosing reactive arthritis. The bacteria which caused a gastrointestinal infection may have resulted in symptoms of food poisoning, with watery or bloody diarrhea and/or fever.

How is reactive arthritis treated?

The main goal of treatment is to identify and eradicate the underlying infectious source with the appropriate antibiotics if still present. Otherwise, treatment is symptomatic for each problem. Analgesics, steroids and immunosuppressants may be needed for patients with severe reactive symptoms that do not respond to any other treatment.

Your doctor may give you a strong medicine for the pain and swelling. You may also need antibiotics if you have an STI caused by bacteria. If you have an STI, it's important that you and your sex partner get tested and treated to keep the STI from coming back.

After Treatment for Reactive Arthritis

The arthritis may return after another infection. This new infection may go quite unnoticed by you. The attacks of arthritis are usually mild and settle within a few weeks. It is very rare for deformity of joints to occur.