$Unique_ID{BRK00439}
$Pretitle{Ill Defined Symptoms and Rare Diseases}
$Title{Lessons to be Learned About Reiter's Syndrome}
$Subject{Reiter's arthritis penis}
$Volume{N-17}
$Log{}

Copyright (c) 1991   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


Lessons to be Learned About Reiter's Syndrome


------------------------------------------------------------------------------

QUESTION:  A recent visit to my physician, because of a painful knee, resulted
in an embarrassing set of questions about my sex life.  I resisted answering,
until the doctor after looking in my eyes, insisted.  When we were through, I
found out a lot about myself, and more respect for your profession.  Why not
tell your readers about Reiter's Syndrome, there are a lot of lessons to be
learned.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ANSWER:  Your suggestion is a welcome one, and the disease you suggest
certainly can help to make a lot of very important points about medical care.
Before we start, a complimentary word for your physician, (and a personal
hello from me).  He was not only astute, but displayed a great many of the
qualities we all desire in our own personal physicians.  His persistence in
questioning was appropriate and artful, and when he discovered your
conjunctivitis, the possibility of a diagnosis of Reiter's Syndrome (RS) was
increased.  RS occurs primarily in young men, between the ages of 20 and 40.
Typically it displays three main symptoms or signs, an arthritis, a
conjunctivitis, and a urethritis (inflammation of the passage within the penis
that carries the urine).  The urethritis produces a burning sensation during
urination but not as severe as when the cause of the inflammation is a
bacterial infection.  There are some studies that indicate that there may be
an inherited factor which makes some individuals more susceptible to the
disease than others.  However, the most important factor is that this is
classifiable as a sexually transmitted disease, thus the queries put to you by
your physician.  It probably is associated with an infection by the C.
trachomatis bacteria, passed on by a sexual partner.  The symptoms come on 7
to 14 days after contact.  Initially there is a low grade fever, possibly some
diarrhea.  The conjunctivitis and arthritis follow over the next few weeks.
Occasionally there are small skin lesions.  When trachoma infection can be
identified as the source, treatment with antibiotics, erythromycin or
tetracycline is recommended over a 10 day period.  And the sexual partner must
be treated as well.  The initial episode will resolve in 3 to 4 months, but
over half the patients will experience some brief arthritic symptoms as well
as the other components of this syndrome over a period that can cover years.
A lesson to be learned for sure, good doctors sometimes ask questions that are
difficult to respond to, but the reasons here are now obvious.
ÿ
----------------

The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace 
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your 
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical 
problem.
