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All About Reactive Arthritis Which Was Formerly Known As Reiter Syndrome

May 18th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed

Reactive arthritis is a totally different form of arthritis than the one known with inflamed and painful joints. Reactive arthritis can damage organs and other systems in the body besides the joints. It can be very painful to those who got this awful disease which is caused by a bacterial infection.

Reactive arthritis, also called Reiter syndrome, is different from other forms of arthritis in that is does not only affect the joints. It also has the potential to affect other organs and systems in the body, like the eyes, gastrointestinal system, urinary system, mouth, skin, lungs, kidney, and heart.

When certain bacteria are present in the body, there is a chance that the body’s immune system will react negatively (this is where the term “reactive arthritis” comes from). The negative reaction displays itself in the form of inflammation, and the inflammation occurs wherever the bacteria may be present.

Genetic?

Reactive arthritis is partially a genetic condition. It has been determined that certain people are more sensitive to the presence of bacteria, and thus more prone to having a negative reaction. However, although genetics do play a role in one’s chances of being affected by reactive arthritis, there are other ways that one can be affected by the condition.

Bodily infections can result in the increased presence of bacteria in the body, and it is not uncommon for reactive arthritis to occur up to three weeks after having had another kind of bacterial infection. One way to contract reactive arthritis is after having had a venereal infection. The condition can also occur after having been affected by diseases like dysentery, shigella, salmonella, campylobacter, and versinia.

Difficult to diagnose

The diagnosis of reactive arthritis can be tricky because it resembles many other conditions, including other arthritis-related conditions. For example, reactive arthritis that takes the form of skin inflammation can be mistaken for psoriatic arthritis. In order to properly diagnose the condition, doctors usually require several blood tests, x rays, and urine cultures. There is currently no one lab test for diagnosing reactive arthritis.

If you think you might have a reactive arthritis you should contact your family doctor as soon as you can. it is very important to treat it as soon as possible.