Reiter's syndrome in childhood

Abstract

A review of the literature of the many series of cases of Reiters syndrome shows that the condition has been rarely reported in childhood. An account of the only three other cases reported in detail in children under the age of 12 years has been given, and the relationship to dysentery indicated. A typical, fairly severe case in an English boy of 9 years is presented, in whom, despite the absence of diarrhoea, a significantly raised serum agglutination titre for Sh. flexneri V was found, which fell to normal as the clinical condition recovered. In addition, the patient had a congenital abnormality of the urinary tract. A suggestion is made that, following epidemics of dysentery, this condition may be found less rarely in childhood if a search is made for minimal clinical manifestations.