Arthritis
Type of joint disorder / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Arthritis is a term often used to mean any disorder that affects joints.[2] Symptoms generally include joint pain and stiffness.[2] Other symptoms may include redness, warmth, swelling, and decreased range of motion of the affected joints.[2][3] In some types of arthritis, other organs are also affected.[7] Onset can be gradual or sudden.[6]
Arthritis | |
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A hand affected by rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune form of arthritis | |
Pronunciation | |
Specialty | Rheumatology |
Symptoms | Joint pain, stiffness, redness, swelling, decreased range of motion[2][3] |
Complications | Amplified musculoskeletal pain syndrome[4] |
Types | > 100, most common (osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis)[5][6][7] |
Risk factors | Family history, age, sex trait, previous joint injury, obesity.[8] |
Treatment | Resting, applying ice or heat, weight loss, exercise, joint replacement[7] |
Medication | Ibuprofen, paracetamol (acetaminophen)[9] |
There are over 100 types of arthritis.[10][5][6] The most common forms are osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease) and rheumatoid arthritis.[7] Osteoarthritis usually occurs with age and affects the fingers, knees, and hips.[7][11] Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that often affects the hands and feet.[7] Other types include gout, lupus, fibromyalgia, and septic arthritis.[7][12] They are all types of rheumatic disease.[2]
Treatment may include resting the joint and alternating between applying ice and heat.[7][13] Weight loss and exercise may also be useful.[7][14] Recommended medications may depend on the form of arthritis.[15][9] These may include pain medications such as ibuprofen and paracetamol (acetaminophen).[9] In some circumstances, a joint replacement may be useful.[7]
Osteoarthritis affects more than 3.8% of people, while rheumatoid arthritis affects about 0.24% of people.[16] Gout affects about 1–2% of the Western population at some point in their lives.[17] In Australia about 15% of people are affected by arthritis,[18] while in the United States more than 20% have a type of arthritis.[12][19] Overall the disease becomes more common with age.[12] Arthritis is a common reason that people miss work and can result in a decreased quality of life.[9] The term is derived from arthr- (meaning 'joint') and -itis (meaning 'inflammation').[20][21]