What is a typical symptom of dactylitis in reactive arthritis?

Dactylitis refers to the inflammation of an entire digit (a finger or toe), resulting in a characteristic sausage-shaped appearance. This specific symptom is especially associated with reactive arthritis, highlighting the body's response to an infection elsewhere that may lead to joint inflammation. In reactive arthritis, the immune response can cause swelling that affects the joints and surrounding tissues, and dactylitis manifests as the elongation and swelling of the digit, giving it the distinctive shape.

This symptom, along with other signs of arthritis, is a critical diagnostic feature that helps differentiate reactive arthritis from other types of arthritis. Other symptoms, such as joint stiffness or localized pain in specific joints, may occur, but they cannot capture the unique presentation of dactylitis in this context. Cramping sensations in the arms are not related to dactylitis or reactive arthritis and do not characterize the inflammation associated with this condition.