Reactive Arthritis

Basics

Description

  • Syndrome classically includes triad of conjunctivitis, urethritis, arthritis
  • Also known as “Reiter syndrome,” although the eponym has fallen out of favor:
    • Typically taught as the syndrome of “can't see, can't pee, can't climb a tree”

Etiology

  • Exact incidence difficult to determine because of lack of standardized diagnostic criteria
  • Typically occurs after infection with gastrointestinal or genitourinary pathogens
    • GI:
      • Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter, Yersinia, Clostridium difficile
    • GU:
      • Chlamydia trachomatis (most common cause), Neisseria gonorrhoeae
  • Also described after upper respiratory infections, UTIs, BCG treatment for bladder carcinoma
  • Peak onset during third decade

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