Rheumatoid arthritis
Reactive arthritis is a type of arthritis that occurs because of an infection. Arthritis is when joints become inflamed and painful. Reactive arthritis is not contagious. It affects men more often than women. It develops most often between ages 20 and 50.
Reactive arthritis is not contagious, but it’s caused by some infections that are contagious. The infections that most often cause the disease are spread through sexual contact from the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. It can cause infections in the bladder, urethra, penis, or vagina.
Other infections that can cause reactive arthritis to infect the bowel. One cause is salmonella. This infection can come from eating food or handling objects that have the bacteria.
Reactive arthritis may also be linked to genes. People with reactive arthritis often have the HLA-B27 gene. But many people have this gene without getting reactive arthritis
Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Joint pain and inflammation that often affect the knees, feet, and ankles
Inflammation of a tendon that is attached to bone. This may cause heel pain or shortening and thickening of the fingers.
Bony growths in the heel (heel spurs) that can cause chronic pain
Inflammation of the spine (spondylitis)
Inflammation of the lower back joints (sacroiliitis)