Formerly known as Reiter’s syndrome, reactive arthritis is joint inflammation due to an abnormal immune response to a recent infection, usually a bacterial infection of the genital tract or intestine. The main symptom is joint pain, swelling, and stiffness.
The condition may also affect the eyes, causing conjunctivitis or blurred vision, or urethra, causing painful urination and a discharge from the urethra.
Treatment may include antibiotics if the infection is still present.
The arthritis itself is usually treated with pain relievers, corticosteroids to reduce inflammation, and sometimes disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs to block the abnormal immune response.