Reactive Arthritis
Reactive Arthritis
Reactive arthritis, which may be referred to as Reiter's Syndrome or Post-infectious arthritis, is a very weakening, rare form of arthritis. The name stems from the belief that the immune system is
Body Organs Affected
Reactive arthritis has been known to affect many different organs and organ systems including: eyes, skin, joints, organs of the urinary system and genitals.
Etiology
Typical Person Affected
According to Rheumatology.org, a bout 10 to 20 percent of people experiencing GI and/or genitourinary infections will develop Reactive Arthritis. The presence of the antigen HLA-B27, is commonly seen in patients with Reactive arthritis. Men between the ages of 20 - 50 are at a higher risk for developing this disease. It is not as common amongst women and less symptomatic as well. About 15 percent of persons who had the disease will have some recurrence if they are exposed to infection. Other cases of recurrences can be due to changes in the immune system. Exposure to the HIV/AIDS virus will increase the possibility of getting Reactive Arthritis since the immune system has been compromised.
Symptoms
In many cases, inflammation of the urogenital tract, the joints and the eyes are typical with Reactive Arthritis. Symptoms vary from painful to barely detectable. Urinary symptoms usually occur merely days within exposure to an infection. A low grade fever, conjunctivitis (pink eye), and arthritis develop over the following weeks.
Symptoms include:
Muscle and Joint~Pain in the Achilles
~tendon
~Pain in lower back
~Pain in large joints(hip, knee, ankle)
~Pain in heel
Eye and skin
~Conjunctivitis/pink eye
~skin lesions
~small ulcers in mouth and glans penis. The ulcers are usually painless.
Urinary and Genital
~Incontinence
~urinary urgency
~Penis pain
~inflammed skin
~urinary hesitancy
~urethral discharge
~Genital lesions(men)
Diagnosis
There are no single tests to diagnose Reactive Arthritis. In many cases, diagnosis is delayed. The diagnosis is usually based on symptoms the patient is experiencing. If there is a combination of arthritiswith conjunctivitis, and inflammation of the genitourinary and/or gastrointestinal systems, the doctor will evaluate the patient's history. The onset of these symptoms will also help the doctor to make a diagnosis.
There are three tests that diagnose Reactive Arthritis:
~ HLA-B27 antigen (this is usually present in patients suffering with Reactive Arthritis)
~ Joint X-rays
~Urinalysis (certain bacteria is usually present in the urine of patients with Reactive arthritis)
Treatment
Treatment for this disease is based on where the initial infection began. The patient will be given antibiotics to treat the infection and anti-inflammatory medications to help relieve joint pain. In cases of severe joint pain, a corticosteroid injection may be administered into the area. Once the infection has cleared up, many symptoms associated with Reactive Arthritis disappear.
Prognosis
Symptoms of Reactice Arthritis may disappear in a matter of weeks; the pain can last several months. In roughly 50% of the people infected, symptoms can reoccur. The reoccurance may be caused by reinfection. Usually, the symptoms that appear are joint pain and severe arthritis that may be tough to control with medications.
Prevention
Since this is a disease that reacts to infections in other parts of the body, prevention is aimed specifically at those infections. Practicing safe sex and properly handling food helps a predisposed person to avoid Reactive Arthritis.
By B Francois - A few tidbits about me: 21 years old. Female. Wanderlust. Vintage lover. Loves indie culture. Heathcare student. Writer. Travel.
Ibuprofen and arteries is it really bad?
What is the risk? Heart Valve or atherosclerosis?
After years of 800 MG ibuprofen my doctor took me off them, this is the same doctor who took me off Embrel when I developed neurological symptoms consistent with MS and the same one who 4 years ago put me on Vioxx and then took me off Vitamin E (whoops made a little mistake there).
He's an excellent rheumatologist and is well known.
I'm a musician and a have a sausage digit it it stays swollen long enough I'll lose mobility doctors don't seem to take stuff like that serious that's a huge deal to me I already have 2 deformed fingers from reiter's syndrome (reactive arthritis) so I went to Mexico and got some prednisone. I like Ibuprofen but not enough to die for.
Well I am qualified to put myself on prednisone. I'm the only one qualified to make decisions about my heath, I hire a doctor for his expert advice and scientific knowledge, not because I need a new god
Get the answers...
Reactive Arthritis v Reiter's Syndrome
45 slide REACTIVE ARTHRITIS PowerPoint Presentation on CD
20 May 2012 at 12:25am
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