The following symptoms and complaints may indicate reactive arthritis/Reiter’s disease:
Reiter’s triad
- Acute arthritis* (joint inflammation) – often asymmetric mono- or oligoarthritis (one or fewer than five joints; very rarely polyarthritis); aseptic (“germ-free”); localization:
- Conjunctivitis (inflammation of the conjunctiva)
- Urethritis (inflammation of the urethra)
* If necessary, also only mild arthralgia (joint pain).
Leading symptoms
- Dactylitis (finger/toe inflammation), especially of the forefeet; asymmetric spread.
- Enthesitis – inflammation of tendon/tendon attachments; often in the Achilles tendon region.
- Erythema nodosum (synonyms: nodular erysipelas, dermatitis contusiformis, erythema contusiforme; plural: erythemata nodosa) – granulomatous inflammation of the subcutis (subcutaneous fat tissue), also known as panniculitis, and a painful nodule (red to blue-red color; later brownish). The overlying skin is reddened. Localization: both lower leg extensor sides, on the knee and ankle joints; less frequently on the arms or buttocks.
- Aphthous changes in the oral mucosa.
- Keratoderma blenorrhagicum – chronic recurrent pustulosis/hyperkeratotic changes on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.
- Balanitis circinata (acorn inflammation)
Often the various symptoms occur over the course of weeks or months and not at the same time. The infection can also proceed asymptomatically (without symptoms).
