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's syndrome

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.

Symptoms include:

• Achilles tendon pain
• Eye pain - burning
• Eye redness
• Eye discharge
• Heel pain
• Joint pain in the large joints (hip pain, knee pain, and ankle pain are common)
• Low back pain
• Skin lesions on the palms and soles that may resemble psoriasis
• Small, painless ulcers in the mouth, tongue, and glans penis
• Urinary urgency
• Urination - burning or stinging
• Urethral discharge

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:

• Genital lesions (male)
• Incontinence
• Penis pain
• Skin redness or inflammation
• Urinary hesitancy

Signs and tests

The diagnosis is based on symptoms. Since the symptoms may occur at different times, the diagnosis may be delayed. A physical examination may reveal conjunctivitis or typical skin lesions.

Tests that may be performed include:

• HLA-B27 antigen
• Joint x-rays
• Urinalysis