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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staff
The signs and symptoms of reactive arthritis generally start one to three weeks after exposure to a triggering infection.
Musculoskeletal
Signs and symptoms that affect your bones and muscles may include:
- Joint pain, usually in your knees, ankles and feet
- Heel pain
- Pain and swelling at the back of your ankle
- Swollen toes or fingers, which may look like sausages
- Pain in your low back or buttocks
Reproductive and urinary
Possible signs and symptoms of your reproductive and urinary systems include:
- Pain or burning during urination
- Increased frequency of urination
- Inflammation of the prostate gland (prostatitis)
- Inflammation of the cervix (cervicitis)
Eyes, mouth and skin
Signs and symptoms that affect your eyes, mouth and skin may include:
- Eye inflammation (conjunctivitis)
- Inflammation of your inner eye (uveitis)
- Mouth ulcers
- Skin rashes
References
- Lam GK, et al. Reactive arthritis. In: Imboden JB, et al. Current Rheumatology Diagnosis & Treatment. 2nd ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2007. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2725203. Accessed Jan. 31, 2011.
- Yu DT. Reactive arthritis (formerly Reiter syndrome). http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 27, 2011.
- Questions and answers about reactive arthritis. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Reactive_Arthritis/default.asp. Accessed Jan. 27, 2011.
- Yu DT, et al. Undifferentiated spondyloarthritis and reactive arthritis. In: Firestein GS, et al. Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/208746819-6/0/1807/0.html. Accessed Jan. 31, 2011.
- Septic arthritis. American Association for Clinical Chemistry. http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/conditions/septic.html. Accessed Jan. 27, 2011.
- Questions and answers about gout. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Gout/default.asp. Accessed Jan. 27, 2011.
- Carter JD, et al. Reactive arthritis: Clinical aspects and medical management. Rheumatic Disease Clinics of North America. 2009;35:21.
- Wechalekar MD, et al. Prolonged remission of chronic reactive arthritis treated with three infusions of infliximab. Journal of Clinical Rheumatology. 2010;16:79.
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