1. Look for the Classic Symptoms First
Reactive arthritis, as all forms of arthritis, directly affects the joints. While different people may suffer pain and inflammation in different areas, the most commonly affected joints are the ones in the feet, arms (especially the wrist) and knees. Once the disease starts progressing, inflammation tends to concentrate in one specific area more than others, such as the toes or the neck and spine. In most cases, the inflammation is asymmetric, appearing either in the right or left side alone.
2. Pay Attention to What Accompanies Inflammation
Along with the inflammation of the joints, reactive arthritis is characterized by a series of flare-ups in certain areas of the body that are not directly related to the joints. The most common examples are the inflammation of the bowel and the urinary tract, which can show up as burning with urination, frequent diarrhea and urethritis. Most of these signs often go undetected because people don't make the connection between them and other symptoms of reactive arthritis, so it's important to mention them to your doctor when filling out your medical history. In some people, inflammation causes stiffness rather than pain. Most people also suffer from redness, swelling and tenderness.
3. Look for External Signs
Aside from the internal signs of the disease, reactive arthritis often produces more obvious problems that affect the skin, mouth and eyes. As the disease progresses, blisters tend to appear on hands and sometimes feet, causing the skin to appear reddish and to peel easily. In some people, open sores develop both inside the mouth and on the lips. While most sores heal by themselves after a few days, those that develop as a result of reactive arthritis tend to stay for weeks. As for the eyes, inflammation is common, which can lead to redness, pain and sensitivity to light.
