Information on the arthritis

What is arthritis? What causes arthritis?



Arthritis is a joint disorder featuring inflammation. A joint is an area of the




body where two different bones meet.



A joint functions to move the body parts

connected by its bones. Arthritis literally

means inflammation of one or more joints.



Arthritis is frequently accompanied by joint pain.

Joint pain is referred to as arthralgia.



There are many types of arthritis (over 100 identified, and the number is
growing).

The types range from those related to wear

and tear of cartilage (such as osteoarthritis) to

those associated with inflammation resulting from

an overactive immune system (such as rheumatoid arthritis).

Together, the many types of arthritis make up the

most common chronic illness in the United States.



The causes of arthritis depend on the form of arthritis.

Causes include injury (leading to osteoarthritis), metabolic abnormalities

(such as gout and pseudogout), hereditary factors, the direct

and indirect effect of infections (bacterial and viral), and a misdirected

immune system with autoimmunity (such as in rheumatoid

arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus).



Arthritis is classified as one of the rheumatic diseases.

These are conditions that are different individual illnesses,

with differing features, treatments, complications,

and prognoses. They are similar in that they have a tendency

to affect the joints, muscles, ligaments, cartilage, and tendons,

and many have the potential to affect other internal body areas.



What are arthritis symptoms and signs?




Symptoms of arthritis include pain and limited function of joints.

Inflammation of the joints from arthritis is characterized by joint stiffness,
swelling, redness,

and warmth. Tenderness of the inflamed joint can be present.



Many of the forms of arthritis, because they are rheumatic diseases, can cause
symptoms affecting

various organs of the body that do

not directly involve the joints. Therefore,

symptoms in some patients with certain

forms of arthritis can also include fever

, gland swelling (swollen lymph nodes),

weight loss, fatigue, feeling unwell, and even symptoms

from abnormalities of organs such as the lungs, heart, or kidneys