Patient's question:
My friend has been feeling unwell recently. Later, they went to the hospital for a thorough examination and found out they had reactive arthritis. I'd like to understand what the symptoms of reactive arthritis are and in what order they appear.Doctor's answer:
Wright syndrome is more common in males, with onset age ranging from 20 to 40 years. It is often associated with a history of unsafe sexual contact or nausea and vomiting. Typical patients exhibit a triad of arthritis, urethritis, and conjunctivitis. Most patients experience acute onset, with arthritis being polyarticular, asymmetric, and varying in severity, predominantly affecting the lower limbs. The most common affected joints are the knees, ankles, and metatarsophalangeal joints, while the small joints of the fingers and toes can also be involved, presenting as redness, swelling, heat, and pain. Muscles near the affected joints may also swell. The arthritis typically persists for 1 to 3 months and resolves spontaneously, with frequent recurrence. Repeated and severe arthritis can lead to joint deformity.