What is Arthritis?
Arthritis is derived from the Greek word “ARTHRON” meaning joint and “ITIS” meaning inflammation. Arthritis is the inflammation of the joints with common symptoms including joint pain, swelling, stiffness and reduced joint movements.
Arthritis is a term used to denote multiple conditions affecting the joints rather than a single disease. Joint pains and swellings can occur in all ages and genders though the type of arthritis can differ. Not only joints, surrounding structures such as tendons, ligaments and bone can also be affected. Symptoms can be mild to severe where with disabilities an individual might not be able to go about their daily basic activities. There is decrease in quality of life.
Commonly associated condition with the term arthritis is Osteoarthritis which means bone inflammation in Greek. Osteoarthritis is usually seen affecting hands, knees, hips and spine. It is termed the Wear and Tear disease. The whole joint is affected including the cartilage and bone. Joint stability is damaged resulting in weak joints. This arthritis is seen in the older age groups and the common symptoms are joint pains with stiffness.
Inflammatory arthritis is a broad term covering various arthritis including Rheumatoid arthritis, Psoriatic arthritis, Lupus amongst many others with an autoimmune basis. The autoimmune reaction is triggered in individuals with a possible genetic trait such as a strong family history, by external factors such as smoking, environmental factors or infection. The immune system which is in place to protect the body from outside infections is dysregulated and starts to attack the joints and other tissues instead, causing the symptoms. Not only joints, various other internal organs such as eyes, skin, heart, lungs and blood vessels are also affected.
Certain infections can trigger arthritis or arthritis can be present during an infection commonly in viral infections. Joint pains and swellings are seen a few days to weeks after recovering from the infection, called Reactive arthritis. This infection associated arthritis usually resolve in a few weeks to months and may not require intensive treatment. But in some cases, they go onto to develop long term joint problems.
Direct infection of the joint, spread through blood flow to the joint or any injury or after a surgery can occur and this is called Septic arthritis. Septic arthritis is the direct infection of the joint alone and this requires immediate treatment. The management includes antibiotics and draining the joint fluid. Gout is a common type of arthritis which is caused by accumulation of uric acid in the joints. Gout usually is seen in men and in women mostly after menopause. Gout occurs as attacks with severe joint pain and swelling with increasing
frequency in untreated cases.
