Reactive Arthritis

Question 1

Infections that can cause reactive arthritis

Answer 1

Yersinia
Chlamydia
Salmonella
Shigella

Question 2

Clinical presentation of reactive arthritis?

Answer 2

Typically an acute asymmetrical lower limb arthritis occurring in a few days to couple of weeks after an infection
Lower limb: e.g. knee, ankle, toes
One or more joints may be affected.
The joints in the legs such as knees, ankles and toes are the ones most commonly affected. Inflammation of joints at the base of the spine is also common, causing low backache and buttock pain. However, any joint can be affected.
Stiffness may develop at first before any pain.
Joints near the skin surface, such as the knee, may become quite swollen.
The severity of pain and swelling can vary from mild to severe.
The tendons and ligaments next to some joints may also become inflamed. The most common site for this is the Achilles tendon at the back of the ankle which may become painful. If the ligaments in a finger or toe become inflamed at the same time as the joints, the whole finger or toe may look swollen. This may then look like a sausage finger or toe.

Question 3

Enthesitis is common in reactive arthritis, what can it cause?

Answer 3

Plantar fasciitis

Achilles tendon fasciitis

Question 4

Clinical features of reactive arthritis?

Answer 4

Acute asymmetric lower limb arthritis
Conjunctivitis
Oral ulceration
Urethritis
Achilles tendon fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis
Keratoderma blennorhagica
Sausage toe "dactylitis"
MTP joint synovitis (ankle)
Knee effusion