Final answer:
Acute infectious arthritis can lead to inflammatory symmetric polyarthritis, typically resolving within 2 months, often due to bacterial infections like S. aureus or Neisseria gonorrhoeae, differing from the chronic nature of autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Step-by-step explanation:
Acute infectious arthritis (also known as septic arthritis), often caused by bacterial pathogens, can lead to an inflammatory symmetric polyarthritis that resolves within 2 months.
Inflammatory symmetric polyarthritis with a resolution within 2 months may be attributed to acute infectious arthritis, which is commonly a result of a bacterial infection. This condition presents as inflammation within joint tissues, causing moderate to severe joint pain and swelling that limits the motion of the affected joint. Patients with an impaired immune system due to other viral or bacterial infections are at a higher risk. Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae are noted as common causes in adults and sexually active individuals, respectively. The infection is often introduced directly through injury or surgery and progresses to the joint through the bloodstream.
Although other conditions like rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are chronic and involve symmetric joint inflammation, they typically do not resolve within such a short period without treatment. RA is an autoimmune disease characterized by the immune system erroneously attacking healthy joint tissues, leading to chronic inflammation, mainly in the hands, feet, and cervical spine. Infectious arthritis, however, has a different pathology and is often treatable with antibiotics, resulting in potential resolution of symptoms within weeks to months.