A 20-year-old woman presents with joint pain and swelling in her knees, ankles, and wrists. She mentions that she had a sore throat about two weeks ago. What are the potential diagnoses and next steps?
This patient's presentation suggests post-streptococcal reactive arthritis (PSRA). PSRA is a type of inflammatory arthritis that occurs following an infection with Group A Streptococcus, often presenting as a sore throat. Throat culture or rapid strep test may not be positive at this stage, but an elevated anti-streptolysin O (ASO) or anti-DNase B titer can support the diagnosis. The arthritis of PSRA is usually self-limited, and treatment focuses on symptom management with NSAIDs.