AN INTEGRATIVE APPROACH TO MANAGEMENT OF REACTIVE ARTHRITIS WITH RESPECT TO VATARAKTA - A CASE REPORT

"Reactive arthritis” manifests as a sudden, non-infectious inflammatory joint condition triggered by a preceding infection that originates elsewhere in the body. This condition frequently implicates pathogens associated with the genitourinary and gastrointestinal systems, including Chlamydia, Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter, and Yersinia, particularly affecting individuals susceptible to such triggers. Recognition of this association may be complicated by the non-specific presentation of diarrhoea, the interval between gastrointestinal and arthritic symptoms, and the wide differential in mono- and oligo-arthritis. An ayurvedic approach to such cases can be correlated with diseases such as vatarakta or Amavata. A 46-year-old female patient recently treated for gastrointestinal infection developed sudden, non-traumatic, bilateral knee pain and swelling. She was diagnosed with vatarakta and treated with Panchakarma procedures like Snehana, Swedana and Ksheera basti along with Shaman aushadi’s (oral medications) and Physiotherapy. The treatment outcome is summarised in terms of a reduction in the signs and symptoms of reactive arthritis concerning vatarakta, along with an improvement in the quality of life.