Reactive arthritis

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In medicine, reactive arthritis is an "aseptic, inflammatory arthritis developing secondary to a primary extra-articular infection, most typically of the gastrointestinal tract or urogenital system. The initiating trigger pathogens are usually shigella; salmonella; yersinia; campylobacter; or chlamydia trachomatis. Reactive arthritis is strongly associated with HLA-B27 antigen."[1] In simpler terms, it is an inflammation of a joint that develops after an infectiou outside a joint.

While the arthritic inflammation must be treated, a careful search must be made for remaining infection, and, if any is found, treated.

Epidemiology

The frequency of reactive arthritis after an infection is estimated to be 0.6 to 3.1 cases/100,000.[2]

References