Reactive arthritis Health Article

Definition

Reactive arthritis is a group of inflammatory conditions that involves the joints, urethra, and eyes. There may also be sores (lesions) on the skin and mucus membranes.

Alternative Names

Reiter syndrome; Post-infectious arthritis

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

The exact cause of reactive arthritis is unknown. It occurs most commonly in men before the age of 40. It may follow an infection with Chlamydia, Campylobacter, Salmonella, or Yersinia. Certain genes may make you more prone to the syndrome.

The disorder is rare in younger children, but may occur in adolescents.

Symptoms

Urinary symptoms usually appear within days or weeks of an infection. Low-grade fever, inflammation of the conjunctiva of the eye (conjunctivitis), and arthritis develop over the next several weeks. The arthritis may be mild or severe, and may affect only one side of the body or more than one joint.

Muscle and joint symptoms include:

• Achilles tendon pain
• Heel pain
• Joint pain in the large joints (hip pain, knee pain, and ankle pain are common)
• Low back pain

Eye and skin symptoms include:

• Eye discharge
• Eye pain - burning
• Eye redness
• Skin lesions on the palms and soles that may resemble psoriasis
• Small, painless ulcers in the mouth, tongue, and glans penis

Urinary and genital symptoms may include:

• Genital lesions (male)
• Incontinence
• Penis pain
• Skin redness or inflammation
• Urethral discharge
• Urinary hesitancy
• Urinary urgency
• Urination - burning or stinging