This article explores the key signs and symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis, a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the spine and joints. It highlights risk factors, typical clinical presentations, and the importance of early diagnosis. While there's no cure, effective management can help reduce discomfort and improve daily functioning for patients. Understanding these symptoms is essential for early intervention and better disease outcomes.

Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic inflammatory disorder classified under spondyloarthropathies. It shares symptoms and risk factors with conditions such as psoriatic arthritis, reactive arthritis, and arthritis associated with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. The disease primarily impacts the spine, joints, eyes, skin, and other organs, leading to inflammation and potential joint fusion.

Most often affecting young adults between 17 and 45, ankylosing spondylitis mostly targets males. It involves inflammation that can cause the fusion of spinal segments, including the ribs and sacroiliac joints in the pelvis. Juvenile form can occur in children, with genetic and environmental factors playing a role in its development.

The presence of the HLA-B27 gene increases susceptibility, though not all carriers develop the disease—about 10% remain unaffected. The exact cause remains unknown, and symptom progression varies among individuals, complicating diagnosis. Healthcare professionals utilize blood tests, X-rays, MRI scans, and physical assessments to identify the condition, focusing on spinal mobility, pain, and breathing limitations.

Typical symptoms include persistent dull pain and stiffness in the lower back, hips, heels, and chest, worsening in the morning and lasting over three months. As the disease advances, it can cause joint fusion, leading to restricted movement, and inflammation of tendons, particularly Achilles tendons. Patients may also experience fever, fatigue, and loss of appetite. Eye inflammation, known as iritis or uveitis, often affects one eye, causing pain, redness, light sensitivity, and blurred vision. Severe cases may involve cauda equina syndrome, showing symptoms like bladder and bowel control loss and limb numbness—requiring urgent care.

Currently, there is no cure for ankylosing spondylitis. Treatment aims to control symptoms, reduce inflammation, and enhance quality of life, with regular adjustments to management plans to best support individual patient needs.