Reactive arthritis and Reiter's syndrome
goodtoknowsays: It may sound bizarre, but a virus or an infection in your gut or urethra can sometimes trigger reactive arthritis. So something as minor as a sore throat can cause one or more of your joints to become inflamed and stiff. Your knees, ankles and toes are often affected. It's not known why this happens, but it's thought that your body reacts after an infection because your immune system is threatened. An episode of reactive arthritis normally lasts for about three to six months. Anti-inflammatory painkillers can ease the arthritis and antibiotics will help clear up a trigger infection.
For a full medical explanation of the causes, symptoms and treatments of arthritis, read on.
Reactive arthritis means that you develop inflammation in joints when you have an infection in some other part of the body. Other symptoms usually develop in addition to the arthritis. Symptoms commonly last 3-6 months. In some cases the arthritis persists long-term. Anti-inflammatory medicines usually ease the pain. Other treatments are sometimes needed.
What is reactive arthritis?
Arthritis means inflammation of one or more joints. Reactive arthritis is caused when a joint 'reacts' to an infection elsewhere in the body. The infection which triggers reactive arthritis is not actually in the joint, but is usually in the gut or urethra.
- Next: Understanding joints
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