Reactive Arthritis - Different Types of Arthritis

Reactive arthritis is a condition that affects children, young people, adults, and older people. In addition to causing inflammation and joint pains, reactive arthritis has its own set of symptoms.

This article will examine the symptoms, causes, and possible treatments for this type of
arthritis.

What are the symptoms of reactive arthritis?

Reactive arthritis causes pain, stiffness, and swelling in the joints and tendons. This normally manifests in the knees, feet, toes, hips, and ankles, much like other types of arthritis. The condition can, however, cause pain and inflammation in any joints in the body.

The outbreaks of these symptoms normally only last a few months, with only minimal numbers of cases causing long-term problems.

Unlike the more common types of arthritis, one of the key symptoms of reactive arthritis is that it can affect the eyes and the genital tract. While these don’t manifest in all cases of reactive arthritis, they are somewhat common. Symptoms affecting the genital tract include:

• Bloody/cloudy urine
• Pain when passing urine
• General feelings of tiredness and illness
• Pain in the lower stomach

When reactive arthritis affects the eyes, it can cause one of two things. It can bring about a case of conjunctivitis or, in rare cases, it can cause a serious condition called iritis - this is when the eye becomes inflamed. If you begin to get symptoms of these conditions, it is important to see an eye specialist as soon as you can. These symptoms can include:

• Red eyes
• Watery eyes
• Swollen eyelids
• Sensitivity to light
• Eye pain
• Misty vision

Finally, reactive arthritis can cause a few other symptoms. These symptoms include such things as flu-like symptoms, mouth ulcers, weight loss, fever, or a scaly rash on the hands or feet.

What causes reactive arthritis?

Reactive arthritis is a condition that manifests in response to various other kinds of
infections. 

The body’s immune system overreacts to the infection and starts attacking the healthy
tissue at the site that has been infected, causing the inflammation.

The reason this happens is not known, but those with a particular gene, called HLA-B27, appear
to be more at risk of developing reactive arthritis than those who lack the gene.

Individuals without this gene can still develop the condition, but the prominence of HLA-B27 in conjunction with reactive arthritis implies there may be a genetic factor regarding the condition. The problem is that, as of yet, scientists haven’t discovered how this manifests or why those with the gene are more susceptible.

Infections are also another precursor to the condition. The types of infections that can cause the development of reactive arthritis are normally sexually transmitted illnesses (STIs), particularly chlamydia. Educating people on sexual health, including how to practice safe sex, can help reduce the likelihood of infection.

Bowel infections, typically due to food poisoning, are also capable of bringing about
outbreaks of reactive arthritis. Food safety practices, including personal hygiene, can help reduce the chance of contamination in care environments through training and review.

What treatments are available for reactive arthritis?

Most cases of reactive arthritis clear up themselves over a few months, but treatments are
typically given to manage the symptoms and infections which brought about the outbreak.

Antibiotics are commonly used to treat STIs that have caused infections, and painkillers,
like ibuprofen, are often used to manage any joint pain.

If the symptoms don’t improve after the use of other treatments, a doctor may prescribe the use of Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs (DMARDs). There are some side effects, such as blood and liver conditions, so it is important to be monitored by doctors and given blood tests.

Self-care and preventative measures are important in dealing with outbreaks of reactive arthritis. Rest is an important first step, but doing stretching exercises once the symptoms begin to improve will help restore muscle strength. Specialist exercises prescribed by a physiotherapist can help manage joint troubles and restore range of movements.

Ice packs and heat packs are good at reducing pain and swelling, while better insoles can help provide more support for standing and moving.

Since sexually transmitted illnesses are the most common infection that triggers reactive arthritis outbreaks, refraining from having sex or making sure a condom is used during sex can reduce the chance of having an outbreak.

As food poisoning is also a trigger, learning about the consequences of poor food safety practices and the causes of foodborne illness can also limit exposure. See our Food Safety E-Learning course for more information.

How can carers learn more about reactive arthritis?

Arthritis is one of many conditions that carers will need to understand to care for their patients
effectively.

Although reactive arthritis can affect anyone, it is particularly important that carers understand how these conditions can impact the lives of older patients. Our Care Essentials training page covers several age-related conditions that discuss causes and care plans.

The Flexebee training platform also includes self-contained modules on dementia awareness, patient handling and duty of care to help care workers apply theory to work-based situations.