Diseases

Reiters (Reactive Arthritis)

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Reactive arthritis is joint pain and swelling triggered by an infection in another part of your body — most often your intestines, genitals or urinary tract. Reactive Arthritis usually targets your knees and the joints of your ankles and feet. Inflammation also can affect your eyes, skin and urethra.

SYMPTOMS

Symptoms include joint pain and stiffness, most commonly in the knees, ankles and feet. In a type of reactive arthritis called reiter's syndrome, there may be discomfort during urination as well as eye inflammation.

CAUSES

In sexually active males, most cases of reactive arthritis follow infection with chlamydia trachomatis or ureaplasma urealyticum, both sexually transmitted diseases. In other cases, people develop the symptoms following an intestina linfection with shigella, salmonella, yersinia, or campylobacter bacteria.