The symptoms of reactive arthritis usually start around 1 to 4 weeks after an infection, such as food poisoning or a sexually transmitted infection (STI).
Common symptoms of reactive arthritis include:
It usually affects knees and feet, but your hands, elbows, spine and tendons around joints might also be affected.
Other symptoms can include:
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Reactive arthritis can be difficult to diagnose because several other conditions can have the same symptoms.
You'll usually need a range of tests to find out what's causing your symptoms.
Tests might include:
You might be referred to a doctor who specialises in joints and inflammation (a rheumatologist) for tests and treatment.
If reactive arthritis is affecting your eyes, you might also be treated by an eye specialist (ophthalmologist). If it's affecting your skin, you might also see a skin specialist (dermatologist).
Treatment for reactive arthritis might include:
Reactive arthritis usually goes away after 6 months. For some people it can come back, or lead to another type of arthritis which needs long-term treatment, such as osteoarthritis or ankylosing spondylitis.
There are things you can do to ease the symptoms of reactive arthritis.
get plenty of rest, but try to move around every day to stop your joints getting stiff
do stretching and strengthening exercises when your joints are not swollen
use cold packs, wrapped in a towel, on sore, swollen joints
use heat packs, wrapped in a towel, on sore, stiff muscles
take painkillers that are recommended by your doctor
follow your care team's advice on what do to if joint pain suddenly gets worse (a flare-up)
Reactive arthritis can happen after having an infection that's usually in your stomach (such as food poisoning), or a sexually transmitted infection (STI), such as chlamydia.
Your joints later become swollen because your immune system begins to attack them by mistake.
If the infection that causes reactive arthritis was very mild, you might not remember having it before your joint pain began.