Important Facts on Reactive Arthritis

By Kim Archer

Reactive arthritis is an autoimmune disease that develops as a response to an infection in some other location of the body. Since its growth is activated by another infection, it is termed "reactive". Most frequently, reactive arthritis takes place due to of the occurrence of some kind of sickness like gastrointestinal, bacterial or genital infections. Even food poisoning has been thought to bring about reactive arthritis. It's often difficult to establish the real reason, since the original illness has normally been cured before the signs of reactive arthritis turn up.

Reactive arthritis is a condition that is inclined to assail individuals who are in their twenties and thirties. It appears that men are more affected by the disease than women. Moreover, white men are more likely to acquire reactive arthritis than black men, and the reason for this is that of distinctive types of tissue. And finally, HIV-positive individuals have a greater chance of being affected by reactive arthritis.

This illness can have an effect on the spine, urinary tract, colon, joints, eyes, heart and mouth. Many of the symptoms of this disorder are not unlike other kinds of arthritis, especially psoriatic arthritis.

When a person develops reactive arthritis they will normally observe three noticeable signs. Among these is swelling and irritation in the large joints, leading to stiffness and decreased range of motion. The second is inflamed eyes, or conjunctivitis, involving soreness and reddening of the eyes along with blurred vision. The third indicator is called urethritis, which causes difficulty urinating. The individual will encounter a burning feeling at the time of urination. Moreover, they also are apt to urinate more often. Further signs of the ailment include the development of a rash on the soles of the feet. The problems that arise will usually remain for around three weeks to a month.

The treatment of reactive arthritis must be done quite carefully. Prior to proceeding with any sort of treatment, the health care provider will conduct tests, both in the clinic together with in a laboratory. The doctor will take urine samples and stool cultures, and will test the blood of the patient. Performing an MRI is also a good idea.

Managing reactive arthritis needs to aim at finding and eradicating the situation in the regions that have been infected. Most effective line of attack to treat the infections is through antibiotics. To treat inflammation of the joints the health care provider may suggest utilizing steroids and analgesics. When the situation is unusually severe, making use of an immunosuppressant is advised. - 30425

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