Reiter’s syndrome is a disorder causing three symptoms namely arthritis, urinary tract infection and redness of eyes. It is a group of disorders that cause inflammation in the body such as parts of spine and other joints and is also referred to as seronegative spondyloarthropathy.

Four signs such as swelling, heat, pain and redness all show that the tissues of the body are injured or inflamed. Due to the Reiter’s syndrome a person becomes infected with arthritis, so this disease is also called as reactive arthritis. The bladder, urethra, vagina or the penis can also get infected under this syndrome and it can be passed from one person to another through sexual intercourse. This is called as Urogenital or Genitourinary Reiter’s syndrome. When a person handles or eats food that is tainted with bacteria then the person can develop a gastrointestinal Reiter’s syndrome.

Treatments available for Reiter’s syndrome are; Bed rest for short periods can be effective to reduce pain and inflammation. Lying down on the bed reduces pressure of the body’s weight on a particular joint, thus providing relief. Some gentle strengthening and motion exercises help to improve functions of the joints. Exercise makes the muscles strong thus providing better support to the joints. Motion exercises help to reduce stiffness in the joints and improve flexibility and movement. As a precautionary measure, one should always consult a doctor before starting any exercise program.

Antibiotics are prescribed to eradicate bacterial infection which triggers the syndrome. The antibiotic prescribed depends upon the type of infection and which body part has been infected. For the infection to clear off one has to follow instructions for the antibiotics carefully. Doctors may recommend antibiotics for a general period of 3 months.

For reducing inflammation of the joints, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are very effective. These are commonly used medicines to treat Reiter’s syndrome. Some of the drugs like ibuprofen or aspirin are available without prescription. Corticosteroids injections are given directly to the arthritic joint for those who have severe inflammation. These injections are used only after the Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAID’s are ineffective. These injections are used for severely arthritic ankle or knees.

For skin lesions associated with this syndrome, topical corticosteroids are used which reduce inflammation and help to heal. There are a small percentage of individuals whose Reiter’s syndrome does not respond to either of the above treatments. For those, there are medicines that suppress the immune system. They include sulfasalazine or methotrexate which can be effective.