REITER'S SYNDROME

What is it?

Reiter's syndrome is a mixture of conjunctivitis (sore eyes), inflammation of the joints and either an infection in the water passage or a particular stomach bug called dysentery.

What causes it?

It is usually brought on by having a sexually transmitted disease or an attack of dysentery.

Who gets it?

You may inherit a tendency to get this condition. You are more likely to get it if you are a young man - especially if you have unprotected sex with different partners, putting yourself at risk of getting a sexually transmitted disease called non-specific urethritis.

What are the symptoms?

The symptoms will often come on one to three weeks after you suffer a bout of dysentery or have unprotected sex with a new partner. You may suddenly get:

• Sore (but not very painful) red eyes;
• Burning and stinging on passing water, often with watery discharge from the tip of your penis;
• Swelling and pain of one of the big joints in your pelvis or legs. You might feel generally very unwell, tired and feverish. Sometimes the soreness in your eyes and water problems will be quite mild. You may only notice gradual painful swelling of your knee or finger joints. You might also get a rash.

When should I go to my GP?

If you get burning and stinging when you pass water - especially if you also have discharge from your penis - you should go to your GP's surgery as soon as possible. You should also make an appointment straight away if you get a sudden painful swelling of one of your joints.

What tests will my Doctor want to do?

Your doctor will probably want to take a blood test and he may send you for an X-ray. He may want to take a swab from the tip of your penis or he may send you to the hospital or the local sexually transmitted disease clinic to have more tests.

What is the short-term treatment?

You will need to rest and take painkillers. You may also need a course of antibiotics. Your eye and waterworks problems will probably settle down quite quickly but your joint pains may take two or three months or longer to clear up.

Will I need long-term treatment?

Sometimes the joint problems you have suffered may come back. You will not need regular treatment unless they do come back or unless they are unusually bad.

How can I stop them getting worse?

In the short term you can help a lot by taking plenty of rest. You should be prepared to give details of your sexual partners so that the doctors can trace and treat them too. In the longer term you must try to avoid sexually transmitted diseases by practising safe sex.

Will I need regular check-ups?

You may need to go back for regular check-ups and blood tests while your symptoms are still there. If you have treatment for a sexually transmitted disease you will need to have a check-up after treatment to make sure the problem has been cured.

Will I have to go to hospital?

You will probably need to be referred to a hospital outpatient department (or a sexually transmitted disease clinic) depending on how bad your symptoms are.