Severe polyarthritis following Campylobacter enteritis in a 12-year-old boy

A severe attack of acute polyarthritis following a verified Campylobacter jejuni enteritis is described in a 12-year-old boy. The patient possesses the HLA-B27 antigen--often found in postinfectious arthritis following acute enteric infections. The ASO titre showed a significant rise, but other serological findings and the clinical course made streptococcal infection unlikely. Investigations to elucidate cross-reactivity between the two micro-organisms turned out negative.