Reactive arthritis in the right hip following COVID-19 infection: a case report

BACKGROUND: SARS-COV-2 usually presents with respiratory symptoms but can have various other manifestations and sequelae. One of the rare complications of COVID-19 infection is Reactive Arthritis. While this complication is more likely to occur following sexually transmitted or gastrointestinal infections, other infections such as COVID-19 can lead to reactive arthritis as well. CASE PRESENTATION: Herein, we report a 58 year old woman hospitalized following COVID-19 infection and was discharged after a week. She consequently presented to the clinic ten days after her discharge, complaining of walking difficulties and radiating pain in her right hip. After ultrasound and MRI, she was diagnosed with reactive arthritis inflammation in the hip’s neck. Other known microorganisms responsible for reactive arthritis were ruled out before attributing it to the earlier COVID-19 infection. Clinical symptoms were resolved after being treated using a combination of indomethacin and depot methyl-prednisolone for 14 days. CONCLUSION: Latest evidence shows that COVID-19 can lead to autoimmune reactions, including reactive arthritis. Further attention should be paid to symptoms occurring after an episode of infection with COVID-19 to expand our understanding of the disease and the symptoms with which it can manifest.