A form of inflammatory arthritis that results as a reaction to a bacterial infection outside the joint.
Symptoms of Reactive Arthritis
The following features are indicative of Reactive Arthritis:
joint pain
stiffness in joints
eye inflammation
increased frequency and discomfort during urination
swollen toes
rashes
low back pain
inflammation of soft tissue
It is possible that Reactive Arthritis shows no physical symptoms and still is present in a patient.
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Common Causes of Reactive Arthritis
The following are the most common causes of Reactive Arthritis:
Chlamydia bacteria
Salmonella bacteria
Shigella bacteria
Yersinia bacteria
Campylobacter bacteria
Clostridium difficile bacteria
Risk Factors for Reactive Arthritis
The following factors may increase the likelihood of Reactive Arthritis:
age between 20 and 40 years
family history
Prevention of Reactive Arthritis
Yes, it may be possible to prevent Reactive Arthritis. Prevention may be possible by doing the following:
use condoms each time to have sex
avoid uncooked and contaminated food
Occurrence of Reactive Arthritis
Number of Cases
The following are the number of Reactive Arthritis cases seen each year worldwide:
Widely occurring between 500K - 1 Million cases
Common Age Group
Reactive Arthritis most commonly occurs in the following age group:
Aged between 20-40 years
Common Gender
Reactive Arthritis can occur in any gender.
Lab Tests and Procedures for Diagnosis of Reactive Arthritis
The following lab tests and procedures are used to detect Reactive Arthritis:
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR): To determine the type of arthritis and extent of inflammation
C-reactive protein test: To measure levels of general inflammation
Blood test: To check the HLA-B27 antigen activity
Low back, pelvis and joints x-rays: To diagnose the signs of reactive arthritis
Complications of Reactive Arthritis if untreated
Yes, Reactive Arthritis causes complications if it is not treated. Below is the list of complications and problems that may arise if Reactive Arthritis is left untreated:
coronary artery stenosis
high grade atrioventricular (A-V) blockage
Medicines for Reactive Arthritis
Below is the list of medicines used for Reactive Arthritis:
The following self-care actions or lifestyle changes may help in the treatment or management of Reactive Arthritis:
Do regularly exercise: Improves strength and flexibility of joint and reduce stiffness
Use condoms during sex: Reduce the risk of infection
Eat well-cooked food: Prevents and reduces the risk of foodborne bacteria infection
Alternative Medicine for Treatment of Reactive Arthritis
The following alternate medicine and therapies are known to help in the treatment or management of Reactive Arthritis:
Physical therapy: Restore muscle strength, joint flexibility and motion
Time for Treatment of Reactive Arthritis
While time-period of treatment for each patient may vary, below is the typical time-period for Reactive Arthritis to resolve if treated properly under an expert supervision:
Disease cannot be treated but only maintained or effects reduced
Is Reactive Arthritis Infectious?
Yes, Reactive Arthritis is known to be infectious. It can spread across people via the following means:
through sex
through contaminated food
Last updated date
This page was last updated on 2/04/2019.
This page provides information for Reactive Arthritis.