Press Release Summary = The arthritis associated with reactive arthritis typically
involves pain and swelling in the knees, ankles, and feet. Wrists, fingers, and
other joints are affected less often. People with reactive arthritis commonly
develop inflammation of the tendons or at places where tendons attach to the bone.
Press Release Body = Reactive arthritis most typically results in inflammation of
the urogenital tract, the joints, and the eyes. Less common symptoms are mouth
ulcers and skin rashes. Any of these symptoms may be so mild that patients do not
notice them. They usually come and go over a period of several weeks to several
months.
Reactive arthritis often affects the urogenital tract, including the prostate or
urethra in men and the urethra, uterus, or vagina in women. Men may notice an
increased need to urinate, a burning sensation when urinating, and a fluid discharge
from the penis. Some men with reactive arthritis develop prostatitis (inflammation
of the prostate gland). Symptoms of prostatitis can include fever and chills, as
well as an increased need to urinate and a burning sensation when urinating.
The arthritis associated with reactive arthritis typically involves pain and
swelling in the knees, ankles, and feet. Wrists, fingers, and other joints are
affected less often. People with reactive arthritis commonly develop inflammation of
the tendons (tendinitis) or at places where tendons attach to the bone (ethesitis).
In many people with reactive arthritis, this results in heel pain or irritation of
the Achilles tendon at the back of the ankle. Some people with reactive arthritis
also develop heel spurs, which are bony growths in the heel that may cause chronic
(long-lasting) foot pain. Approximately half of people with reactive arthritis
report low-back and buttock pain.
Reactive arthritis also can cause spondylitis (inflammation of the vertebrae in the
spinal column) or sacroiliitis (inflammation of the joints in the lower back that
connect the spine to the pelvis). People with reactive arthritis who have the
HLA-B27 gene are even more likely to develop spondylitis and/or sacroiliitis.
Conjunctivitis, an inflammation of the mucous membrane that covers the eyeball and
eyelid, develops in approximately half of people with reactive arthritis. Some
people may develop uveitis, which is an inflammation of the inner eye.
Conjunctivitis and uveitis can cause redness of the eyes, eye pain and irritation,
and blurred vision. Eye involvement typically occurs early in the course of reactive
arthritis, and symptoms may come and go.
Between 20 and 40 percent of men with reactive arthritis develop small, shallow,
painless sores (ulcers) on the end of the penis. A small percentage of men and women
develop rashes or small, hard nodules on the soles of the feet and, less often, on
the palms of their hands or elsewhere. In addition, some people with reactive
arthritis develop mouth ulcers that come and go. In some cases, these ulcers are
painless and go unnoticed.
2025
