Reiter's Syndrome Injury Attorneys in Illinois

Chicago Personal Injury Lawyers for Cases of Reactive Arthritis Caused by Food Poisoning

Many Americans suffer from a condition called reactive arthritis, also known as Reiter's Syndrome. Reiter's Syndrome is the most common type of inflammatory polyarthritis in young Americans, and is usually found in men under the age of 40. It often follows a case of food poisoning including from Campylobacter, Salmonella, Shigella or Yersinia. Yersinia is not a common term although it is a food poisoning that is similar symptomatically to plague. Yersinia most often comes from eating pork. It is also known as Y. enterocolitica infection and according to the Center for Disease Control Y. enterocolitica infects approximately 100,000 people per year in the United States.

How do you know if you have Reiter's Syndrome?

There are many different types of symptoms associated with Reiter's Syndrome. Initially, it is common to have a low-grade fever and also inflammation in the conjunctiva of the eye. With some people, arthritis sets in and can be mild and in others the arthritis is severe. The following areas may be affected:

• Lower back
• Large joints, hip pain, knee pain, and ankle pain
• Achilles tendon pain
• Heel pain
• Eye pain and burning
• Skin lesions on the palms and soles
• Ulcers in the mouth which oftentimes are painless
• Incontinence and painful urination
• Penis pain and swollen glands
• Urethral discharge

For many people, reactive arthritis goes away in a few weeks and for others, it takes a few months. For some, the symptoms may return over a period of years and with others, it is a chronic condition that impacts their everyday living. The only way to avoid the disease is to not contract a gastrointestinal infection.

Additional Complications

Although very rare, some individuals suffer from aortic insufficiency in the heart valve that can cause the backward flow of blood from the aorta into the left ventricle. ACE inhibitor drugs and diuretics may be prescribed for those suffering from heart problems relating to reactive arthritis and others will need surgery. If you have chest pains or fainting spells, fast or slow heartbeat, light headedness, paleness, shortness of breath and or excessive sweating, immediate treatment is necessary.

In 1984, an outbreak of salmonella typhimurium infected 432 police officers. Of these officers, 27 suffered from acute arthritis. Out of the 27, approximately half resolved their arthritis issues within one year and 18 had reoccurring symptoms otherwise known as Reiter's Syndrome.

The personal injury attorneys at Newland & Newland have handled many food poisoning injury cases including a case for a client suffering from Reiter's Syndrome after contracting food poisoning from the 'Taste of Chicago'.

Unfortunately, many food poisoning and reactive arthritis cases go undiagnosed. If you or a loved one suffers from Reiter's Syndrome, contact Newland & Newland, LLP at 312-981-0409.  From our five Chicago area locations, we serve clients throughout Cook County, DuPage County, Lake County, Kane County, Will County, and McHenry County.