Reiter's disease in children.

Three Canadian Indian boys, aged 2, 14, and 15 years, with features of Reiter's disease (RD) had arthritis occur that was characterized by noticeable tenderness and large effusions. The two youngest also had conjunctivitis and urethritis and thus conformed to the classical triad of RD. The eldest had dysuria and a history suggesting keratoderma blennorrhagica. All had HLA-B27 antigen. Inclusions indicative of chlamydial infection were seen in assays from the two youngest boys. Previously documented cases of childhood RD have been reviewed. More flexible diagnostic criteria may be useful in identifying this class of seronegative arthritis in children.