This type of arthritis is the occurrence of three usual symptoms, even if all of them or not related.
The symptoms are the following: inflammation of the large joints, inflammation of the eyes, and urethritis.
Simply put, the person cannot urinate, cannot bend the knee, and cannot see.
This disease commonly strikes people from ages 20-40.
Men are more affected by this than women.
White men are more susceptible to this disease than black men due to the tissue types.
Also, HIV-positive people are more likely to suffer from this disease.
The starting cause is actually the presence of an illness, like a genital infection called Chlamydia trachomatis.
Other illnesses, like gastrointestinal infection, bacterial infection, and food poisoning may trigger the ailment, too.
The symptoms of this type of arthritis may occur for three weeks at the minimum.
In extreme cases, symptoms will last a whole month.
The patient will feel a burning sensation when urinating and will urinate more often than usual.
Rashes will appear on the soles of the feet.
Inflammation of the knees is present.
Eye irritation and redness will also occur.
Vision may become blurry.
Treatment must be handled with extreme care.
Clinical and laboratory tests must be conducted, but the best option to diagnose this type of disease is through the use of MRI.
Culture of urine and stool should also be taken along with blood samples.
The main goal of treatment here is to locate and eradicate the infected areas.
Underlying infections are treated with antibiotics.
Joint inflammation is treated with steroids and analgesics.
The use of immunosuppressant is necessary for severe cases.
Repeated attacks are common to sufferers of the ailment, while in some cases the disease will be progressing or will never appear at all.
But the most important aspect is that people affected with reactive arthritis may still live a normal life span, retaining their normal lifestyle.
Adjustments do have to be made to protect affected organs and body parts.