Symptoms of Reactive Arthritis include pain, swelling, redness, and heat. There are several causes of this disease. Some of these causes are hereditary. The good news is that there is a lot that can be done to combat this disease.
Symptoms
Symptoms of reactive arthritis include swelling, redness, and a general feeling of unwellness. The condition affects the joints and urinary tract. It typically affects people over the age of 20. However, it can also occur in children.
Reactive arthritis is not contagious. It occurs when the immune system reacts to an infection by creating joint inflammation. A swollen joint is typically the first symptom. It may be mild and resolve on its own, or it can persist for a long time.
Reactive arthritis can be diagnosed by a doctor. They will perform a physical examination, ask about your symptoms, and look for other conditions. They may order X-rays of the joints. The joints can be checked for signs of spondylitis, enthesitis, or other conditions. The doctor will also test your stool for bacteria. If they find a bacterial infection, they will give you antibiotics.
In most cases, the infection is mild and will resolve on its own. But in some cases, the infection can cause severe symptoms. You may have a burning sensation while urinating, or you might develop a cervix inflammation. You might also develop an inflammatory fallopian tube.
In addition, you may experience mouth sores and a rash on the soles of your feet. You might also develop a sausage-like swelling on your fingers. A doctor might prescribe steroid eye drops to help with eye symptoms.
You can try relaxation techniques to relieve your reactive arthritis. You can also take NSAIDs or glucocorticoids to reduce the pain. You should also get plenty of rest and maintain a good sleep schedule. These are important for resolving your condition. You can also store your food properly. You should avoid straining the affected joints.
The symptoms of reactive arthritis can be mild or severe. They can last for months or even years. You should have a good bedtime routine to keep your reactive arthritis in check.
You should always follow your health care provider’s recommendations. You can also get more information about the drugs your doctor has prescribed.
If you have reactive arthritis, you can treat it by using a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. These medicines can reduce the symptoms of the condition and prevent further joint damage. You can also have steroid injections to reduce the swelling and pain in your joints.
Diagnosis
Symptoms of reactive arthritis vary among individuals, but most people recover with time. However, up to half of them have recurring joint inflammation over several years.
The exact cause of reactive arthritis is unknown. It is thought that it is caused by a bacterial infection. In addition, it may be the result of a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Usually, it comes and goes over a period of months or years.
In order to diagnose reactive arthritis, the healthcare provider will first assess the patient’s symptoms and medical history. In addition, he or she may perform a physical examination. The patient’s blood, urine, and stool samples are checked for signs of an infection. The provider will also check for the presence of a genetic marker called HLA-B27.
The results of these tests will help the provider make a more definitive diagnosis. The results will also indicate the degree of inflammation in the joints. In addition, the test can exclude other conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis or Behcet’s syndrome.
The treatment of reactive arthritis includes the use of antibiotics to treat the infection and medicines to reduce inflammation. Cortisone injections may be used to control the pain in the affected joints. The goal of the treatment is to prevent joint destruction. In addition, the patient can take medications to suppress the immune system.
Patients who have reactive arthritis should keep track of their symptoms. They should also inform their healthcare team of any changes in their condition. They should also discuss recovery with their provider. They should write down new prescriptions and take note of the medication they are taking. They should also store their food properly.
Patients who have reactive arthritis may have problems with their blood count. Their kidney and liver functions may also contribute to the problem. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are also used to suppress the symptoms of the disease.
Depending on the severity of the condition, the patient may need to see other specialists. These include urologists, ophthalmologists, and dermatologists.
A specialist will be able to determine the correct diagnosis and coordinate the treatment. The treatment will consist of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to suppress the symptoms, antibiotics for the infection, and medicine to control the inflammation.
Treatment
Symptoms of reactive arthritis can vary from person to person. Some patients may only have symptoms for a few months while others may have a chronic disease. It’s important to talk with your physician about the symptoms you’re experiencing. If you’re diagnosed with reactive arthritis, your doctor will make a treatment plan that will help you manage your condition.
The primary symptom of reactive arthritis is inflammation of a joint. The pain can vary from mild to severe. In addition, the joint may develop ulcerations. If the disease is caused by a bacterial infection, your physician may prescribe antibiotics.
In addition to inflammation of joints, reactive arthritis can also affect the eyes. Common symptom is redness, swelling, and blurred vision. Your doctor may recommend an eye exam or prescription anti-inflammatory medication.
Infections that cause reactive arthritis are typically caused by contaminated food or surfaces. The body’s immune system reacts to the foreign material by invading the joint lining and creating inflammation. The resulting stiffness can limit your ability to move.
Some people with reactive arthritis also develop mouth sores. X-rays of the affected joints can show typical changes in the tendons’ attachment points. If these tendons are inflamed, your doctor may prescribe corticosteroid injections to help relieve pain.
Urinary tract involvement is also a common symptom of reactive arthritis. Women who have this type of arthritis may have a burning sensation when urinating. In addition, they might experience inflammation of the cervix, fallopian tubes, or prostate gland. In most cases, the problem clears up on its own.
If you have uveitis, you will need to be treated by an ophthalmologist. You might need a procedure called an arthrocentesis to check for reactive arthritis. Your doctor may also perform a urinalysis and culture of your urine to determine the infection.
In some cases, you may be prescribed NSAIDs. NSAIDs are drugs that suppress the production of inflammatory chemicals in the body. Taking these medications regularly will help reduce inflammation and pain. However, these medicines can also lead to problems with blood count. If your physician has prescribed a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), you will need to follow the instructions on the bottle.
Hereditary factors
Several hereditary factors are involved in the development of reactive arthritis. These include the HLA-B27 gene, a genetic marker for spondyloarthropathies, and exposure to certain infections.
Reactive arthritis is most common in people between 20 and 40 years of age. It occurs more often in men than women. However, it can also occur in children. The disease is caused by an inflammatory reaction to a fragment of a bacteria or virus. This can result in the development of a rash, eye pain, and mouth sores.
In some cases, the reaction can lead to severe arthritis. This condition is generally treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. In most cases, the disease clears up after a few months. If it persists, stronger drugs are needed to control it.
Some patients also have a burning sensation while urinating. In other cases, the condition affects the prostate gland, causing inflammation of the prostate.
If a person has symptoms of reactive arthritis, he or she should see a doctor. Laboratory tests can be used to confirm the diagnosis. X-rays can be taken to look for damage to the joints. The test will also help to rule out other causes of symptoms.
A number of bacteria are known to cause reactive arthritis, including Salmonella, Campylobacter, Yersinia, and Shigella. The bacteria can enter the body through contaminated surfaces, triggering the reaction.
If a patient has a history of genital or urinary infections, his urethral discharge may be tested for reactive arthritis. The doctor can also swab the cervix to culture the causative organisms. He or she may also perform an arthrocentesis to collect fluid from the joints for diagnostic purposes.
X-rays and blood tests are sometimes used to check for reactive arthritis. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is a good indicator of inflammation and may be increased in patients with this condition. If the ESR is elevated, the person is considered to have reactive arthritis.
If the person has an elevated ESR and the symptoms are not due to an infection, the doctor might prescribe a cortisone injection to reduce the pain. The doctor can also perform a physical examination to rule out other conditions.
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