Abstract

The aim of this work was to present the clinical observations concerning the occurrence and treatment of reactive arthritis in children. The material analysed by our team included 49 patients hospitalised due to the occurrence of arthral ailments. The diagnosis based on ARA criteria, modified criteria after Jones, Lyme Disease Foundation criteria and the criteria of reactive arthritis revealed that nearly 60% of cases were children with reactive arthritis. We observed a high correlation between the age of patients and the increased parameters of inflammatory process, as well as the interrelationship between the symptoms duration and the involvement of hip joints. The main pathogenic agent resulting in the occurrence of the symptoms of reactive arthritis among the children from Białystok voivodship is Borrelia burgdorferi. Despite controversies, it seems advisable to apply the antibiotic therapy in case of ReA caused by a bacterial or protozoon agent.

Keywords: reactive arthritis, children