What are reactive arthritis?

Reactive arthritis is a disease in which inflammation of several joints occurs, which in turn occurs after a serious infectious disease has been transferred. In this article, we will consider this ailment in as much detail as possible, its symptoms and the main methods of treatment.

Why does the disease occur?

• Reactive arthritis today can be found in many people, but experts identify special risk groups, which mainly include patients with the highest likelihood of developing the disease. Most often they include representatives of the strong half of humanity aged 20 to 40 years. But the ladies are also subject to this ailment.
• As noted above, reactive arthritis is diagnosed only after a recent serious infectious disease, including chlamydia. So, according to experts, in this kind of situation the probability of encountering a problem is from one to three percent.
• In addition, reactive arthritis also occurs in the presence of a special gene in the body, namely HLA-B27. So, scientists have proved, that in this case probability to pick up an illness increases in 50 times.

Main symptoms

1. So, the primary signs of this kind of disease, as a rule, make themselves felt four weeks after the entry into the body of the primary infection. The main symptoms are usually simple. This is a rapid increase in body temperature, and malaise, and general weakness, and weight loss.
2. It is noteworthy that reactive arthritis is developing very rapidly, and already in the second stage there are severe joint pains, their inflammation. In addition, the disease extends to the nearby tendons, as well as the so-called articular fingers bags.
3. Another unpleasant symptom is called damage to the mucous membranes and directly to the skin itself. The thing is that it is in these areas of our body that small sores (erosions) begin to appear rapidly. It is noteworthy that in men erosion often appears on the head of the penis.

Diagnostics

When the first symptoms appear in this article, it is recommended to consult a specialist without delay. So, in addition to visual examination, it will be necessary to pass some tests with reactive arthritis. Only after a complete examination the doctor will confirm or, conversely, refute such an unpleasant diagnosis.

How to cure reactive arthritis?

In connection with the fact that such an ailment is primarily provoked by an infection, the specialists in this case, the main efforts are directed to getting rid of the organism from its presence. It is the quality of therapy at this stage that determines the outcome of the treatment. Then special painkillers are prescribed, which allow you to get rid of unpleasant and very uncomfortable sensations in the joints. Note that most often the treatment is done on an outpatient basis, however, in case of a serious condition of the patient or with severe manifestations of the disease, hospitalization may be required.