Reactive Arthritis
Reactive arthritis is an inflammatory condition of joints triggered by bacterial infection outside the joints. Most commonly involved infections are gastrointestinal tract infection and sexually transmitted diseases. Its signs and symptoms along with investigation and management have been illustrated below in detail.
Signs and symptoms
The patients usually present with a single joint pain and swelling. Lower limb joints and enthesitis are commonly involved. Some patients also develop sacroiliitis. Other associated symptoms are circinate blanitis, keratoderma blennorrhagica, pustular psoriasis, nail dystrophy, mouth ulcers, conjunctivitis, and uveitis etc.
Investigations
The diagnosis is basically clinical. A physician may advise joint aspiration to rule out Septic arthritis. Other investigations such as ESR, CRP, urine culture and sensitivity, RF, ANA, ACPA, and X-rays might be advised to the patient.
- Joint aspiration
- ESR
- CRP
- ANA
- Anti-CCP
- RF
- X-Ray
Management
It includes rest, NSAIDs and analgesics. Intra articular or systemic steroids are also used in the patients of ReA. A course of antibiotics such as doxycycline or azithromycin may also relieve symptoms. In non-responsive cases DMARDs and glucocorticoids can be used.