Reactive arthritis is listed as a "rare disease" by the Office of Rare Diseases (ORD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This means that Reactive arthritis, or a subtype of Reactive arthritis, affects less than 200,000 people in the US population.
Ophanet, who are a consortium of European partners, currently defines a condition rare when if affects 1 person per 2,000. They list Reactive arthritis as a "rare disease". More information about Reactive arthritis is available from Orphanet
For details see incidence of types of Reactive arthritis analysis; summary of available incidence by type data:
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In most cases of septic arthritis, bacteria spread from a primary site of infection — usually in adjacent bone or soft tissue — through the bloodstream to the joint. Common infecting organisms in children are group B Streptococcus and Haemophilus influenzae. Adults are usually infected by Staphylococcus, Streptococcus (pneumonia), and group B Streptococcus, whereas chronic septic arthritis is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Candida albicans.
Various factors can predispose a person to septic arthritis. Any concurrent bacterial infection (of the genitourinary or the upper respiratory tract, for example) or serious chronic illness (such as malignancy, renal failure, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, diabetes, or cirrhosis) heightens susceptibility. Consequently, elderly people and those who abuse I.V. drugs run a higher risk of developing septic arthritis. Of course, diseases that depress the immune system and immunosuppressive therapy increase susceptibility. Other predisposing factors include recent articular trauma, joint arthroscopy or other surgery, intra-articular injections, and local joint abnormalities.
Septic arthritis may be seen at any age in children, but it occurs most often in children younger than age 3. It’s uncommon from age 3 until adolescence, at which time the incidence increases again.
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
The term 'prevalence' of Reactive arthritis usually refers to the estimated population of people who are managing Reactive arthritis at any given time. The term 'incidence' of Reactive arthritis refers to the annual diagnosis rate, or the number of new cases of Reactive arthritis diagnosed each year. Hence, these two statistics types can differ: a short-lived disease like flu can have high annual incidence but low prevalence, but a life-long disease like diabetes has a low annual incidence but high prevalence. For more information see about prevalence and incidence statistics.
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