10 Symptoms of Arthritis

9. Symptoms of Infectious Arthritis

Bacterial, viral, and fungal organisms can enter a joint and cause inflammation and infection. These infections start elsewhere in the body, then spread to the joint. Food poisoning, sexually transmitted diseases, and bladder infections can lead to infectious arthritis. Reactive arthritis is a type of infectious arthritis and usually occurs in the toe, ankle, or knee. Symptoms include severe pain, chills, and fever. The joint appears red and swollen, and the individual may have difficulty moving the part of the body around the infected joint. Once a doctor has diagnosed an infection elsewhere in the body, the individual should seek medical attention if they notice the onset of joint pain.