What is reactive arthritis?
Reactive arthritis is a rare form of arthritis caused by a bacterial infection that usually affects your urinary or gastrointestinal tract, causing painful inflammation in your lower back, joints and eyes.
Reactive arthritis symptoms can be mild or become more severe over time. Symptoms last between three and 12 months and can come and go during that time.
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Who does reactive arthritis affect?
Reactive arthritis is most often found in men ages 30 to 50, but women can get it too. Men are nine times more likely than women to get reactive arthritis through sexual contact. Women are more likely to get reactive arthritis from food poisoning.
How does reactive arthritis affect my body?
Reactive arthritis affects people in different ways. You might have one or all of the following problems:
- Joint pain and stiffness.
- Conjunctivitis (Pink eye.)
- Urinary tract inflammation.
- Diarrhea.
- Sores on your skin and in your mouth.
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How common is reactive arthritis?
Reactive arthritis is relatively rare, affecting five out of every 100,000 people in the United States.
