Arthritis is typically equated with pain and inflamed joints, but that is not the only harm that the dreaded condition can cause. Another form of arthritis, reactive arthritis, can cause damage to other organs besides the joints. This means that it can be even more painful for those who suffer from it.

Infection-Induced Inflammation

Reactive arthritis, formerly known as 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. The cause of this widespread inflammation is from bacterial infection.

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.

What Are The Chances?

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.

Kind Of Confusing

The diagnosis of reactive arthritis can be tricky because it resembles many other conditions, including other arthritis-related conditions. For example, reactive arthritits 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.

Unpredictable And Unpreventable

It is difficult to predict or prevent reactive arthritis. For this reason, it is important that those who think they could be affected to visit their doctor as soon as they can. The sooner the condition can be caught, the sooner it can be nipped in the bud!