What Are the Symptoms of Reactive Arthritis?

Reactive arthritis may cause arthritic symptoms such as joint pain and inflammation, as well as urinary tract symptoms and conjunctivitis (eye infection). The following are the most common symptoms of reactive arthritis. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently.

Symptoms may include:

Arthritis symptoms

• Joint pain and inflammation that often affect the knees, feet, and ankles
• Inflammation of the tendon that is attached to the bone (called enthesopathy), which may cause heel pain or the shortening and thickening of the fingers
• Heel spurs, which are bony growths in the heel that can cause chronic pain
• Spondylitis (inflammation of the spine)
• Sacroiliitis (inflammation of the lower back joints)

Urinary tract symptoms

• Men:
  • Increased urinary output
  • Burning sensation during urination
  • Discharge from penis
  • Inflamed prostate gland (prostatitis)
• Women:
  • Inflamed cervix
  • Inflamed urethra, causing a burning sensation during urination
  • Inflamed fallopian tubes (salpingitis)
  • Inflamed vulva and vagina (vulvovaginitis)

Eye symptoms

• Red eyes
• Painful and irritated eyes
• Blurry vision
• Inflamed mucous membrane that covers the eyeball and eyelid (conjunctivitis)
• Inflammation of the inner eye (uveitis)

The symptoms of reactive arthritis may resemble other medical conditions or problems. Always consult your physician for a diagnosis.