It looks like your browser is out-of-date! For the best user experience, please upgrade to a more modern browser like Chrome or Edge.

Skip to Main Content
Visitor Guidelines | Directrices de visitas

We are taking thoughtful steps to ensure our spaces remain safe for patients, parents and caregivers. View safety measures, mask policy and visiting guidelines.

Estamos adoptando medidas reflexivas para garantizar que nuestros espacios sigan siendo seguros para los pacientes, los padres y los cuidadores. Vea las medidas de seguridad, la política de uso de mascarillas y las directrices de visitas.

Mobile sized logo
  • 317.944.5000
    • Schedule an Appointment
    • Refer a Patient
    • Plan My Visit
    • Pay a Bill
    • Make a Donation
    • Volunteer
    • Find a Career
    • Health Information
    • Find a Doctor
    • Departments & Programs
    • Support Services
    • Contact & Locations
    • Refer a Patient
    • My IU Health Patient Portal
Riley Children's Health
  • 317.944.5000
  • My IU Health Patient Portal
    • Schedule an Appointment
    • Refer a Patient
    • Plan My Visit
    • Pay a Bill
    • Make a Donation
    • Volunteer
    • Find a Career
Book Appointment Online with select physicians.
Request Appointment Online to schedule with one of our coordinators.
1.888.IUHEALTH for
Same-Day Primary Care Appointments.
If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please call 9-1-1.
    • Schedule an Appointment
    • Refer a Patient
    • Plan My Visit
    • Pay a Bill
    • Make a Donation
    • Volunteer
    • Find a Career
  • Health Information
  • Find a Doctor
  • Departments & Programs
  • Support Services
  • Contact & Locations
  • My IU Health Patient Portal
  • General Information
    317.944.5000
  • Health Information
  • Find a Doctor
  • Departments & Programs
  • Support Services
  • Contact & Locations
Riley Children's Health

Reactive Arthritis & Reiter Syndrome

Reactive Arthritis & Reiter Syndrome
  • Find a Doctor
  • Request An Appointment
  • On This Page:
  • Treatments
  • Key Points to Remember
  • Support Services & Resources
  • Locations
  • Departments Treating This Condition
Go back to the top of the page

Reactive arthritis occurs when the body’s immune system reacts to a recent infection, usually within the past four to six weeks, with joint swelling and pain. The child has recovered from the infection and, several weeks later, develops the signs of reactive arthritis. This condition was previously called Reiter syndrome.

The symptoms of reactive arthritis include:

  • Arthritis
  • Joint swelling and pain
  • Joint stiffness
  • Joint redness
  • Pain that is out of proportion to what is showing on an exam (for instance, there is only a little swelling but a lot of pain)

Diagnosis of Reactive Arthritis & Reiter Syndrome

Pediatric rheumatologists diagnose reactive arthritis primarily by ruling out other conditions that could be causing the symptoms. The doctor must rule out:

  • Current infection
  • Malignancies (such as tumors) that can cause arthritis
  • Other autoimmune diseases that can cause chronic arthritis

To diagnose reactive arthritis, your child’s rheumatologist will likely run a blood test to check for:

  • Signs of previous or present infection
  • Inflammation
  • Antibodies related to other types of arthritis
  • A genetic link

If your child’s doctor suspects reactive arthritis, he or she may also recommend taking fluid out of the affected joint and testing it for white blood cell count, infection or uric acid crystals.

Reactive arthritis is a fairly common type of arthritis in children. It is important that a pediatric rheumatologist properly diagnose and treat your child for this condition.

Treatments

Treatments

Your child’s doctor will likely prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to reduce the symptoms of reactive arthritis. The symptoms of reactive arthritis usually go away after about six weeks with treatment.

Key Points to Remember

Key Points to Remember

  • Symptoms of reactive arthritis generally occur four to six weeks after a child has recovered from an infection.
  • Your child’s doctor will need to rule out other conditions that can mimic the symptoms of reactive arthritis before making a correct diagnosis of this condition.
  • Reactive arthritis is a fairly common form of arthritis in children and usually goes away in about six weeks with proper treatment.

Support Services & Resources

Support Services & Resources

Visit the trusted websites below to learn more about reactive arthritis and Reiter syndrome.

Riley at IU Health offers a broad range of supportive services to make life better for families who choose us for their children's care.

Learn More About Riley Support Services

American College of Rheumatology

The American College of Rheumatology provides education and support for patients and families living with reactive arthritis.

Locations

Locations

Locations

In addition to our primary hospital location at the Academic Health Center in Indianapolis, IN, we have convenient locations to better serve our communities throughout the state.

See all facilities →

Departments Treating This Condition

Departments Treating This Condition

  • Rheumatology
Riley Children's Health Indiana University School of Medicine
Designated as Best Children's Hospitals by U.S. News & World Report, Ranked in 10 Specialties in 2020-21

©2023 Riley Hospital for Children at
Indiana University Health
Find adult services at iuhealth.org

Get Informed

  • About Riley Children's Health
  • Family Support Services
  • Health Professionals
  • Medical Education
  • Newsroom
  • Riley Connections Blog
  • Careers
  • Legal Notices

I Want To…

  • Schedule an Appointment
  • Refer a Patient
  • Plan My Visit
  • Pay a Bill
  • Make a Donation
  • Volunteer
  • Find a Career

General Information

317.944.5000

Connect with Riley at IU Health

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
  • RSS
Designated as Best Children's Hospitals by U.S. News & World Report, Ranked in 10 Specialties in 2020-21

©2023 Riley Hospital for Children at
Indiana University Health
Find adult services at iuhealth.org


Non-discrimination Notice

  • English
  • Español
  • Français
  • Burmese
  • Pennsilfaanisch Deitsch
  • 中文
  • Nederlands
  • Deutsch
  • Hakha
  • 日本語
  • Karen
  • 한국어
  • Русский
  • Tagalog
  • Tiếng Việt
  • العربية
  • हिंदी
  • ਪੰਜਾਬੀ
Back to top of the page