Reiter's syndrome is a disease with symptoms like inflammation of joints, intestinal or genital/urinal tract infection, eye problems and skin diseases. Reiter's syndrome is also known as reactive arthritis, which means that the arthritis happened as a "reaction" to an infection that started elsewhere in the body. It is common among men between the age group of twenty to forty years. Women and elderly men also get affected but less in number.
Causes
Reiter's syndrome is characterized by the inflammation of joints. The arthritis occurs usually 1-3 weeks after an individual suffers from infection in the intestine or genital/urinal tracts like bladder, urethra, penis, or vagina.
A person can get affected by the infection after eating food contaminated with bacteria or infection can be transmitted through sexual intercourse. However it is not known why some people develop the arthritis after the infection and some people don't. Researches indicate that the reason for developing the arthritis after having the infection is for some particular genes in the body.
Signs and Symptoms
- The major symptom of the Reiter's syndrome is the Arthritis. Inflammation, stiffness and pains in the joints occur, particularly where the ligaments and tendons are attached to the bones. Pain in the ankle or knee, in the heel of the foot, swollen in fingers and toes, back pain and chest pain are the common symptoms of the disease.
- Arthritis is mainly accompanied by Urethritis, Prostatitis, Cervicitis, Cystitis, eye problems and skin sores.
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- Urethritis is common in this disease, if not always the first condition. It involves inflammation of the urethra. Prostatitis means the inflammation of the prostrate gland in men. Women may have salpingitis ie. inflammation of the fallopian tubes or vulvovaginitis ie. inflammation of the vulva and vagina. Cervicitis denotes the inflammation of the cervix area and Cystitis means the infection of the urinary or genital area.
- Because of the infection in the urinary tract or prostrate problem, men can suffer from frequent need to urinate, burning sensation while urinating and fever.
- Eye problems like conjunctivitis may occur.
- Sores in skin may also appear.
Diagnosis
There is no specific test for diagnosis of Reiter's syndrome. Usually, the doctor makes physical check- up through blood tests, x-rays and then eliminating the other causes of arthritis.
Treatment is done mainly through the use of medicines, Corticosteroid injections in case of severe pains and some exercises to keep the body fit.
Go through the site arthritisxl.com to have more information on Other Types of Arthritis
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