Reiter’s syndrome is also referred to as reactive arthritis. Hans Reiter, a physician in the German army of the World War I first noted the presence of this disease. Dr. Reiter illustrated the three notable characteristic traits accompanying this disease: inflammation of the urinary tract, joints, and the eyes. In more recent times, doctors have identified another major feature: ulcerations of the mouth and the skin.
The medical fraternity is still unclear about the exact causes of Reiter’s syndrome. However, it is now an accepted fact that both genetic and environmental factors are involved in making some people vulnerable to this disease. Around 80 percent of people who develop Reiter’s syndrome have a gene called HLA-B27, which is a part of the family of genes that defines the body’s defense mechanism against the disease. However, a presence of the gene does not imply that one will develop this disease. It is rather an indication of the fact that having the gene may make some people react to an infectious agent that will ultimately cause Reiter’s syndrome.
The causes of Reiter’s syndrome when it is contracted through the intestinal track are some variants of bacteria like Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter or Yersinia. People who eat infested food may develop a bout of diarrhea. A lot has been spoken about the fact that the inflammation in the urinary tract is a result of the presence of various organisms. However, no such particular infectious agent has been identified.
Some researchers in an attempt to find out the causes of Reiter’s syndrome have found fragments of infectious agents in the joints affected by this disease. How the infectious agents reached the agents is not known although the arthritis stems from the presence of such foreign bodies in the joints. Studies explain that some people may develop or have a reversion of Reiter’s syndrome after having intercourse with a new partner. Reiter’s syndrome as a disease cannot be transmitted through sexual contact.
The causes of rheumatic disorders and arthritis can be attributed to the hectic lifestyle. The tendency to indulge in junk food eating is becoming increasingly prevalent. A lack of right nutrients, hectic lifestyles, nervous tension and anxiety often lead to the development of such disorders. Researchers have also identified that lack of organic sodium contributes to the development of arthritis and rheumatic disorders.
