Reactive arthritis: What you should know

Arthritis is characterized by swelling, pain, and discoloration of the legs, knees, ankles, and back.

Doctors consider chronic arthritis to be a form of rheumatoid arthritis. It is a general term describing diseases that affect tissues that hold muscles, tendons, and bones together.

Doctors describe the condition as chronic because it occurs in response to an infection elsewhere in the body.

The most common causes include sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as chlamydia and intestinal infections caused by bacteria such as salmonella or shigella. Although arthritis is incurable, it can spread the bacteria responsible for it.

Inflammation is the main symptom of arthritis. Severe muscle, nose, skin, and eye pain may occur.

Characteristics

Symptoms of arthritis may take several weeks to appear after an injury.

That may include

• Pain and swelling in feet, hands, knees, ankles and other joints
• Low back pain and sacroiliac joint pain
• Pain in the feet is caused by arthritis, which is inflammation of tendons and tendons
• the wrong direction
• Angry eyes and snapping
• glaucoma or uveitis
• Pain or tingling in the hands, feet, or genitals
• Frequent and painful urination

Symptoms may recur in some people, and in rare cases arthritis may become chronic.

Potential issues

Arthritis is most common in men between 10 and 30 years of age.

According to the 2020 study, men are nine times more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis than women. Chlamydia is one of the causes of rheumatoid arthritis.

Eating contaminated or processed foods can also lead to gastrointestinal infections, which can lead to chronic arthritis. Causes include bacteria;

• Salmonella A spores
• The genus Shigella
• Yersinia is a name
• Campylobacter infection

Both men and women develop arthritis at the same rate as gastrointestinal disease.

Rheumatoid arthritis is common in HIV-infected individuals. Therefore, the doctor can test for HIV with new symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.

Chronic arthritis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Arthritis has been reported in rare cases. Other studies have reported arthritic symptoms following infection with SARS-CoV-2. However, more research is needed to determine the relationship between COPD and chronic arthritis.

Charge

There are currently no specific laboratory tests for arthritis. For this reason, doctors will use different methods to diagnose the disease. That may include

• Take a medical history including past and present symptoms
• Examine any burns, including the groin, genitalia, eyes, and skin
• Check the joint for swelling, swelling, and range of motion
• Blood tests for arthritis, antibodies, and red blood cell count.
• Regarding the HLA-B27 gene, studies have shown that 60-80% of people with rheumatoid arthritis carry this gene.

When certain diseases cause chronic arthritis, doctors often perform tests to find or rule out the cause. These tests may include:

• Screening for Chlamydia
• Analyzes samples from the throat, stool and cervix for bacteria
• Test the urine sample
• Studies of synovial fluid in joints
• X-rays of the back, hip and joint

Mild arthritis may go undetected because chronic arthritis can be difficult to diagnose.

Treatment

A person’s treatment plan depends on their current symptoms, the underlying cause of reactive arthritis, and whether the condition is in an acute or chronic phase.

However, the treatment plan often focuses on:

• Treat the infection with antibiotics
• Manage pain
• Treat reproductive, eye or skin problems

Finding medical treatment for reactive arthritis may involve working with a variety of specialists, including rheumatologists.

Other doctors who are part of a person’s health care team include a gynecologist or urologist for reproductive or urinary problems, an ophthalmologist for eye complications, and a dermatologist for skin problems.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are often a reliable source of first-line treatment for people with severe rheumatoid arthritis. NSAIDs help a person control symptoms such as inflammation and pain.

A doctor may recommend the use of corticosteroids, which are powerful drugs that can reduce inflammation. A healthcare professional can administer corticosteroids directly to the affected joint area, or a person can take them by mouth.

Other treatments for chronic arthritis reactions include:

• Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs
• TNF and other antibody therapy
• Biological factors
• Home remedies and pain relief
• Participating in too much exercise can cause a person with arthritis.

Exercise does not prevent reactive arthritis, but it can help people with arthritis experience less arthritis pain and better joint health.

Preventing recurrent infections that can trigger reactive arthritis is also important for self-care. People can use barriers such as condoms to reduce the risk of STDs and store and cook food at recommended temperatures to prevent the spread of foodborne bacteria.

A person can also find relief from the pain of reactive arthritis attacks when they occur. Pain and swelling can be reduced by gently applying a heating pad or ice, taking care to avoid direct contact with the skin. Reducing pressure on the affected joint can also help reduce pain and discomfort.

Appearance

With proper treatment, most people with reactive arthritis can make a full recovery within 3-5 months.

But in cases of chronic reactive arthritis, these symptoms can last up to a year. People may experience a return of symptoms after treatment. The Arthritis Foundation reports that 15-50 percent of people will develop recurring arthritis symptoms.

These symptoms can be caused by an infection and can also be caused by the development of other types of arthritis. A 2016 follow-up study of people previously treated for reactive arthritis reported that 44% developed ankylosing spondylitis and 4% developed psoriatic arthritis later in life.

Summary

Reactive arthritis is a type of inflammation that can cause swelling and pain in the joints.

It occurs due to infections in other parts of the body, including some sexually transmitted infections. Treatment usually aims to resolve the infection that started the disease and help the person manage pain and other symptoms.

The prognosis for people with reactive arthritis is usually good, but symptoms can sometimes return.