title: Clostridium difficile-associated reactive arthritis in two children.
abstract: In adults, reactive arthritis (ReA) following Clostridium difficile-enterocolitis has been documented. In children, only one case of C. difficile-associated ReA has been reported. We now describe two other cases of ReA associated with C. difficile in children. The characteristics of ReA due to C. difficile appear to be similar in adults and children. Both children show polyarthritis after an episode of diarrhoea with positive stool cultures for C. difficile. Arthritis is asymmetrical with a self-limiting course. Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID) therapy is sufficient. One case is remarkable because of its prolonged course of ReA despite NSAID therapy, and its association with the presence of HLA-B27 antigen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Rheumatology, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, Université Paris V, 149 rue de Sèvres, 75743 Paris, France.
authors.forename: Helga A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Löffler
authors.forename: Benedicte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pron
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mouy
authors.forename: Nico M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Wulffraat
authors.forename: Anne-Marie
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Prieur
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016918:Arthritis, Reactive / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D016360:Clostridioides difficile / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004761:Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D015796:HLA-B27 Antigen / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000091402:Prohibitins; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D015796:HLA-B27 Antigen; C000717331:PHB2 protein, human; D000091402:Prohibitins