Reiter's Syndrome in Children: Case Report and Review of Literature

Abstract

1. Our experience with a six-year-old boy who had diarrhea, urethritis, conjunctivitis and arthritis is presented as a classical case of Reiter's syndrome. The patient recovered fully in a period of five months and has remained well during the past five years. 2. The cause of Reiter's syndrome remains unknown but in children may be related to Flexner bacillus dysentery. 3. The disease in children is usually less severe than in adults and all 11 children reported have recovered. The recent literature is reviewed. 4. Treatment with antibiotics is of no value and steroid therapy has not prevented exacerbations nor shortened the course of the disease. 5. The nongonococcal triad of urethritis, conjunctivitis, and arthritis is a distinct clinicopathologic entity which differs from known infections and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.