The reactive arthritis it's a youéterm used to describe that arthritis that appears after a infectionón intestinal o géit-urinary. before call síReiter's syndrome, is characterized by presenting different sísymptoms such as inflammationóno of joints (arthritis), inflammationón in some parts of the eye (beítis o conjunctivitis), inflammationón of the tube through which urine is expelled (withdrawn), úulcers or sores in the mouth, diarrhea and cut lesionsádenies.
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Causes of reactive arthritis
The reactive arthritis Eastá caused in many patients by an infectionón located in the urinary or intestinal tract. There are two ways in which reactive arthritis can present., the way they comeéarea occurs through sexual contact and is most often caused by a bacterium called Chlamydia, así as the form sayérich is produced by Salmonella bacteria, Shigella, Yersinia o Campylobacter, by eating food contaminated by these gérmenes.
It is important to differentiate reactive arthritis from infectious arthritis., since while in the first a reaction occursón of the organism to derivatives of the bacteria when there is no longer infectionón, In infectious arthritis, it is the bacteria that causes the arthritis and requires urgent treatment with antibiotics.óticos.
Sísymptoms of reactive arthritis
When talking about theísymptoms of reactive arthritis, we can find mainly the following:
- Síprevious symptoms of infectionón: in the form comeérea can be stinging, pain, irritationón, itching, vaginal or penile discharge. Diarrhea is usual, which sometimes presents with blood and mucus and can be accompaniedñi love vómyths. These sísymptoms take place between 1-4 weeks before arthritis starts.
- Arthritis: the arthritis patient begins without apparent trauma, with pain and swellingóon the ankle, knee, the suchóno toes, although alsoémay not affect the lower back, elbows or hands. Reactive arthritis can affect the joints, hamstrings and lower back.
- skin lesions: They can also occurén non-articular manifestations in reactive arthritis, as scaly lesions on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet, which are similar to psoriasis. SpaghettiéReddish, scaly mucosal lesions may appear.ón in the external area of the penis.
- Úulcers on the mouth that generally do not give anyúno kind of annoyance.
- In the eye: conjunctivitis, that it is a simple irritationón that lasts from 1 a 3 días you heardítis or iritis that causes pain and redness in the eye and worsens when looking in bright light, that requires attentionón mésay urgent from an ophthalmologistólogo.
- Sígeneral symptoms: It is an inflammatory flare-up, fatigue is frequently associated, tiredness or fever if inflammationón of the joints is very sharp. Muscle atrophy and weakness may appear.
in addition, It must be taken into account that reactive arthritis rarely affects óinternal organs such as the heartón, the lungófor that matterñón. The sísymptoms of reactive arthritis may be similar to those that occur in psoriatic arthritisásica, inflammatory bowel disease and gonococcal arthritis. These diseases can cause skin lesions or diarrhea.
Diagnosis of reactive arthritis
In this sense, it must be taken into account that to detect reactive arthritis there is not one úonly test to reach the diagnosisóstico. It is necessary to investigate the current or previous presence of the causative germ, although this is often not fruitful in a great núnumber of cases.
Samples should be taken for culture from the urethra., the neck of the úland, from the first urine of the morningñhe, of the líjoint fluid and stool. In cases comeéinmates the méI say recommendá that the other member of the couple alsoénot be doneá evidence.
In the yearságeneral lysis few abnormal data are found, highlighting unspecified alterationsísigns of inflammationón, as sedimentation rateón globular, proteína C reactive and others may be elevated. There may be mild anemia.
Treatment of reactive arthritis
There are different treatment options for reactive arthritis, Which are the following:
Antibióticos
Although the disease is caused by an infectionón prior, the antibióticos are not usually indicated in cases of arthritis. Nevertheless, in some patients they are prescribed if there are doubts about what to treatá correctly the infectionóinitial n, especially in cases comeéinmates. Treatment with antibioticsótics for several months does not alter in the greatestíof the cases the evolutionón and development of the artr processítico.
arthritis treatment
The treatment of reactive arthritis depends on the intensity of pain and inflammation.ón, así like the no.únumber of joints that are affected,. In acute arthritis are úUse the appón of fríor in the jointón, rest and anti-inflammatory, being important not to overload the jointón that is inflamed.
In some cases they are put férollers of materialáelastic to immobilize the jointón. Spaghettién ice or bags are applied térmics during 10 minutes to relieve pain rápiously. in addition, It must be taken into account that muscular activity and exercise are necessary fídaily physical to prevent muscle atrophy.
isom exerciseséOtrics that help not to lose strength and contribute to the movement of the joint.ón. Exercise is very important in the case of people suffering from arthritis of the spine.. In this sense, it is especially recommended swimmingón, a good form of exercise because it helps maintain flexibility in the neck, back, chains and shoulders. Secondly, there are no dietary recommendationséspecial ethics for patients.
in addition, keep in mind that there are many anti-inflammatories that can be effective, although the dose and type of fádrug may be different for each individual, but you always have to look for the one that causes fewer adverse effects.
Cirugía
The cirugía usually not needed in reactive arthritis. A jointóand yesñada can be replaced by a jointón artificial o próthesis. Show usóto beá in those cases in which the articulationón be unable to perform their functionón, usually in the knee and hip.
