Reactive arthritis is a condition of pain and inflammation in the joints caused by an infection in the body. While the arthritis itself is not contagious, the infection that caused it could be. An example of a related infection is salmonella.
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Reactive arthritis is a type of arthritis that occurs because of an infection. Arthritis is when joints become inflamed and painful. Reactive arthritis is not contagious. It was formerly known as Reiter’s syndrome. It affects men more often than women. It develops most often between the ages of 20 and 50.
Reactive arthritis is not contagious, but it’s caused by some infections that are contagious. The infections that most often cause the disease are spread through sexual contact, including the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis, which can cause infections in the bladder, urethra, penis or vagina.
Other infections that can cause reactive arthritis infect the gut. One cause is salmonella. This infection can come from eating food or handling objects that have the bacteria.
Reactive arthritis may also be linked to genes. People with reactive arthritis often have the HLA-B27 gene. However, many people have this gene without getting reactive arthritis.
Risk factors for getting reactive arthritis include:
Having an infection from sexual contact.
Having an illness from contaminated food.
Being male.
Reactive arthritis may cause arthritis symptoms, such as joint pain and inflammation. It can also cause urinary tract symptoms and eye infection (conjunctivitis). Symptoms can last from three to 12 months. In a small number of people, the symptoms may turn into chronic disease. Symptoms can happen a bit differently in each person, and may include:
Arthritis symptoms
Joint pain and inflammation that often affects the knees, feet and ankles.
Inflammation of a tendon that is attached to bone. This may cause heel pain or shortening and thickening of the fingers.
Bony growths in the heel (heel spurs) that can cause chronic pain.
Inflammation of the spine (spondylitis).
Inflammation of the lower back joints (sacroiliitis).
Urinary tract symptoms
Men:
Increased urine.
Burning sensation during urination.
Discharge from penis.
Inflamed prostate gland (prostatitis).
Women:
Inflamed cervix.
Inflamed urethra. This causes a burning sensation during urination.
Inflamed fallopian tubes (salpingitis).
Inflamed vulva and vagina (vulvovaginitis).
Eye symptoms
Red eyes.
Painful and irritated eyes.
Blurry vision.
Inflamed mucous membrane that covers the eyeball and eyelid (conjunctivitis).
Inflammation of the inner eye (uveitis).
The symptoms of reactive arthritis can be like other health conditions. Make sure to see your healthcare provider for a diagnosis.
The process starts with a health history and a physical exam. Diagnosis can be difficult. This is because there are no specific tests that can confirm the condition. Some blood tests may be done to rule out other conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. Other tests may include:
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR or sed rate). This test looks at how quickly red blood cells fall to the bottom of a test tube. When swelling and inflammation are present, the blood’s proteins clump together and become heavier than normal. They fall and settle faster at the bottom of the test tube. The faster the blood cells fall, the more severe the inflammation.
Tests for infections. This includes a test for chlamydia. It may also include tests for other infections that are linked to reactive arthritis.
Joint aspiration (arthrocentesis). A small sample of the synovial fluid is taken from a joint. It’s tested to see if crystals, bacteria or viruses are present.
Urine and stool samples. These are used to look for bacteria or other signs of disease.
X-rays. This test uses a small amount of radiation to create images of tissues, bones and organs. X-rays are used to look for swelling or damage to the joint. This can check for signs of spondylitis or sacroiliitis.
Gene testing. A test may be done to check for HLA-B27.
You may also have testing to rule out other forms of arthritis.
Treatment will depend on your symptoms, age and general health. It will also depend on how severe the condition is. Treatment may also include:
Antibiotics to treat the infection.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines to reduce inflammation.
Corticosteroids to reduce inflammation.
Immunosuppressive medicines such as methotrexate to control inflammation.
Strong biological immunosuppressants given as a shot.
Rest to ease pain and inflammation.
Exercise to strengthen muscles and improve joint function.
The main symptoms of reactive arthritis will often go away in a few months. Some people may have mild arthritis symptoms for up to a year. Others may develop mild, long-term arthritis. Up to half of people will have a flare-up of reactive arthritis in the future. In rare cases, the condition may lead to chronic, severe arthritis. This can lead to joint damage.
If your symptoms get worse or you have new symptoms, let your healthcare provider know.
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