M03.6: Reactive arthropathy in other diseases classified elsewhere

Reactive arthropathy refers to a form of arthritis that occurs as an immune response to an infection located in some other part of the body, not the joints themselves. Characterized by painful joint inflammation, this condition can affect a single joint or multiple joints throughout the body. Patients may present with joint stiffness, swelling, redness, and occasional fever. The severity of the joint symptoms can vary widely and does not necessarily correlate with the severity of the initial infection that triggered the arthritis. While reactive arthropathy can come from a variety of pathogens, common triggers include certain bacterial infections of the gastrointestinal tract or sexually transmitted diseases. The symptoms of reactive arthropathy generally arise days to weeks after the onset of the triggering infection.