Arthritis

From WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

(Redirected from Drug-induced arthritis)

Arthritis literally means inflammation of one or more joints. Sometime, it is used loosely to mean any disorder that affects joints.

Rheumatoid arthritis joint
Rheumatoid arthritis joint

Cause and diagnosis[edit | edit source]

There are over 100 types of arthritis.

Pathophysiology[edit | edit source]

  • Most types of arthritis cause pain and stiffness in and around the affected joint or joints.
  • Some types of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis, also affect the immune system and some internal organs of the body.

Types of arthritis[edit | edit source]

  • The most common form of arthritis in the United States is osteoarthritis.
  • Other common types of arthritis include rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and fibromyalgia.
  • Fibromyalgia is included in arthritis for public health purposes.
Septic arthritis of left hip joint with melioidosis
[[Septic arthritis]] of left hip joint with [[melioidosis]]

Signs and symptoms[edit | edit source]

  • Different types of arthritis have different symptoms.
  • Pain and stiffness in and around one or more joints are common symptoms for most types of arthritis.
  • Depending on the type of arthritis, symptoms can develop suddenly or gradually over time. Symptoms may come and go, or persist over time.

Causes[edit | edit source]

Causes vary based on the type - septic arthritis is infectious in origin while gout is due to accumulation of uric acid in the joint, while many autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis have unknown causes.

Risk factors[edit | edit source]

Certain factors make it more likely that you will develop arthritis. You can control some risk factors, and others you cannot. By changing the risk factors you can control, you can decrease your risk of getting arthritis or making arthritis worse.

If you have a form of inflammatory arthritis, like rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, you may be more likely to develop complications from the flu than most people.

  • Flu-related complications may include:
  • Sinus infections.
  • Ear infections.
  • Bronchitis.
  • Pneumonia.
Ankle Joint Arthritis
Ankle Joint Arthritis

People with inflammatory arthritis are more vulnerable to flu-related complications because they have weakened immune systems. These forms of arthritis and some of the medications used to treat them can both weaken the immune system.

Incidence[edit | edit source]

An estimated 54.4 million US adults have arthritis. Experts believe that number will grow as our nation’s population gets older.

Rheumatoid arthritis - affected joints of the hand
Rheumatoid arthritis - affected joints of the hand

Children and arthritis[edit | edit source]

Children can get arthritis. The most common type of arthritis found in children is juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), also known as childhood arthritis or juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

Signs and symptoms of childhood arthritis may include:

  • Joint pain.
  • Swelling.
  • Fever.
  • Stiffness.
  • Rash.
  • Fatigue (tiredness).
  • Loss of appetite.
  • Inflammation of the eye.

Difficulty with daily living activities such as walking, dressing, and playing.

Childhood arthritis causes permanent damage to the affected joint or joints. Early diagnosis and proper treatment are important to prevent or minimize permanent damage. There is no cure for childhood arthritis, but some children with childhood arthritis achieve permanent remission, which means the disease is no longer active.

Prevention[edit | edit source]

You can reduce your risk of getting some types of arthritis by changing risk factors you can control. Risk factors you can control include overweight and obesity, joint injuries, and smoking.

Rheumatoid-Arthritis Normal Joint Vs Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid-Arthritis Normal Joint Vs Rheumatoid Arthritis

Diagnosis[edit | edit source]

Diagnosis involves medical history, physical examination, X-rays, CT or MRI scans at times and blood tests.

It is possible to have more than one form of arthritis at the same time. There are many forms of arthritis, and diagnosing the specific type you have can help your doctor determine the best treatment. The earlier you understand your arthritis, the earlier you can start managing your disease, reducing pain, and making healthy lifestyle changes.

Treatment[edit | edit source]

  • The focus of arthritis treatment is to:
  • Control pain.
  • Minimize joint damage.
  • Improve or maintain physical function and quality of life.
  • In inflammatory types of arthritis, it is also important to control inflammation.

Obesity and arthritis[edit | edit source]

It is important for people with arthritis to maintain a healthy weight. For people who are overweight or obese, losing weight reduces pressure on joints, particularly weight bearing joints like the hips and knees. In fact, losing as little as 10 to 12 pounds can reduce pain and improve function for people with arthritis. At any age, low-impact, arthritis-friendly physical activity and diet changes can help you lose weight. Learn about managing your weight at CDC’s Healthy Weight website.


Arthritis Resources
Wikipedia
WikiMD
Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index‏‎ - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes

Search WikiMD

Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD

WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

Let Food Be Thy Medicine
Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates

Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.

Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD