| • Science | • People | • Locations | • Timeline |
| Contents | ||
Arthritic diseases include rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis, which are autoimmune diseases; septic arthritis, caused by joint infection; and the more common osteoarthritis, or degenerative joint disease. Arthritis can be caused from strains and injuries caused by repetitive motion, sports, overexertion, and falls. Unlike the autoimmune diseases, osteoarthritis largely affects older people and results from the degeneration of joint cartilage. Other forms are discussed below.
Arthritic joints can be sensitive to weather changes. The increased sensitivity is thought to be caused by the affected joints developing extra nerve endings in an attempt to protect the joint from further damage.
All arthritides feature pain, which is generally worse in the morning and on initiating movement, and resolves in the cause of time. In elderly people and children, the pain may not be the main feature, and the patient simply moves less (elderly) or refuse to use the affected limb (children).
When faced with joint pain, a doctor will generally ask about several other medical symptoms (such as fever, skin symptoms, breathlessness, Raynaud's phenomenon) that may narrow down the differential diagnosis to a few items, for which testing can be done.
Arthritis and fever together are pointers towards septic arthritis (see below). This is a medical emergency, and requires urgent referral to a rheumatologist.
The various types of arthritis can be distinguished by the pace of onset, the age and sex of the patient, the amount of (and which) joints affected, additional symptoms (such as psoriasis, iridocyclitisIridocyclitis also known as anterior uveitis, is a condition in which the uvea of the eye suffers inflammation. Symptoms include photophobia, redness, watering of the eyes, lacrimation, constriction of the pupil, and blurred vision. Iridocyclitis is usual, Raynaud's phenomenon, and rheumatoid nodules), and other clues.
Blood testBlood tests are laboratory tests done on blood to gain an appreciation of disease states and the function of organs. Since blood flows throughout the body, providing oxygen and other nutrients, and drawing waste products back to the excretory systems fors and X-rayIn the NATO phonetic alphabet, X-ray represents the letter X. Rontgen An X-ray is a form of electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength approximately in the range of 5 pm to 10 nanometers (corresponding to frequencies in the range 30 PHz to 60 EHz). X-rays of the affected joints are often performed to make the diagnosis. X-rays can show erosions or bone appositions.Screening blood tests: full blood countA full blood count FBC or complete blood count CBC is a test requested by a doctor or other medical professional that gives information about the cells in a patient's blood. Automated blood count Blood for a FBC is usually taken into an EDTA tube to stop, electrolytes, renal functionIn medicine ( nephrology) renal function is an indication of the state of the kidney and its role in physiology. Indirect markers Most doctors use creatinine, urea and electrolytes to determine renal function''. These measures are adequate to determine wh, liver enzymes, calciumSee also Calcium, New York, United States. potassium calcium scandium Mg Ca Sr Full table General Name, Symbol, Numbercalcium, Ca, 20 Series alkaline earth metal Group, Period, Block 2 (IIA), 4, s Density, Hardness 1550 kg/m3, 1. 75 Appearance silvery whi, phosphate, protein electrophoresis, C-reactive protein and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). Specific tests are the rheumatoid factor, antinuclear factor (ANF), extractable nuclear antigen and specific antibodies whenever the ANF is found to be positive.