What is Reactive Arthritis 

Reactive arthritis can cause inflammation in various joints throughout the body and is more commonly found in the feet & toes.  This condition can develop after you've had an infection or experienced food poisoning.
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👉🏽Reactive arthritis is a condition that causes inflammation in the joints, muscles, and tendons. It usually occurs after an infection by certain bacteria or parasites. The most common cause is a urinary tract infection (UTI) caused by E. coli bacteria. Reactive arthritis can be very painful and sometimes lasts for months or years—but it can often be treated successfully after diagnosis from your Doctor and lifestyle changes.

👉🏽Reactive arthritis (also known as post-infectious arthritis) is a type of arthritis that is triggered by an infection in the body. It's called reactive because it's caused by another condition, and it can also be referred to as "post-infectious" arthritis.
The exact cause of reactive arthritis isn't known, but it's thought that certain infections trigger an immune system response that leads to inflammation in your joints. The most common causes include:

• Bacterial infections 
• ​Viral infections
• ​Fungal infections 
• Parasitic infection 

When does Reactive Arthritis start?
✔️Reactive arthritis can start at any time. It may be a few days to a few weeks after an infection, or it may take months or even years. In some cases, reactive arthritis can start many years after an infection has ended.
✔️Reactive arthritis is usually triggered by a bacterial infection in your body and It's not clear why some people develop the condition and others don't.
Is reactive arthritis permanent?
Reactive arthritis is a temporary condition and does not usually last for more than a few years. It can also be treated with medication and lifestyle changes, as well as surgery in some cases. Your Doctor will work through a treatment plan with you based on your symptoms and diagnosis. 
Is reactive arthritis common?

• Reactive arthritis is not very common. It is estimated that 1 in 100 people will get reactive arthritis. This means that if you live in the United States and are randomly selected as part of a study, there's only a 1% chance that you will have reactive arthritis.
• The condition is more common in men than women, but it still affects both sexes equally often. The reason why this happens isn't clear yet
• Reactive arthritis can also develop after an infection of the large intestine (colon) or following surgery on your colon--for example, if you have Crohn's disease and need surgery for it. The same goes for people with irritable bowel syndrome who have had their large intestine removed or  because of cancerous growths (this type of surgery is called proctocolectomy).

Symptoms of reactive arthritis.
​Reactive arthritis is a condition that causes pain, swelling and redness in the joints. It can also affect your lower abdomen, genitals and skin. Reactive arthritis symptoms include:

• Pain in your joints (especially the knees)
• Swelling of your fingers, toes and/or ankles
• Redness around your joints

Reactive arthritis can also cause fever, night sweats, weight loss or fatigue. You may have an increased appetite but find it difficult to eat because of abdominal pain caused by reactive arthritis. Irritability is another common symptom of reactive arthritis
Treatment for reactive arthritis.Treatment for reactive arthritis depends on the type of reactive arthritis you have and your Doctor will advise you on the treatment plan according to your symptoms and diagnosis. 
Reactive arthritis can be very painful but there are treatments that can help you manage it.Reactive arthritis is a form of arthritis that occurs as a result of an infection in the body. The infection can be caused by bacteria, viruses or parasites, and it may affect any part of your body. For example:

• If you have an intestinal infection (for example, from food poisoning) and develop reactive arthritis in your knees or hips, this would be called enteropathic arthropathy.
• If you get an urethral infection (a urinary tract infection) while traveling abroad and later develop reactive arthritis in your knees or hips--and even arms--it's known as tropical spondyloarthropathy syndrome (TSAS)

Reactive arthritis is a condition that can have a devastating impact on your life. However, there are treatments available and it's important to seek them out as soon as possible. If you think that you may have reactive arthritis or another type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), make sure to see your doctor immediately so they can help diagnose and treat the condition!