Basic Health Care Series
Arthritis
Basic Health Care Series
Arthritis
Maci Valerio
Alpha Editions
Copyright 2017
ISBN : 9789386367549
Design and Setting By
Alpha Editions
email - alphaedis@gmail.com
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
The views and characters expressed in the book are of the author and his/her imagination and do not represent the views of the Publisher.
Contents
Preface
1. Arthritis: An Introduction
2. Arthritis Symptoms
3. Arthritis Diagnosis
4. Arthritis Care
5. Arthritis Treatment
6. Arthritis Diet
7. Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
8. Psoriatic Arthritis
Preface
Arthritis is a term often used to mean any disorder that affects joints. Symptoms generally include joint pain and stiffness.Other symptoms may include redness, warmth, swelling, and decreased range of motion of the affected joints. In some types other organs are also affected. Onset can be gradual or sudden.
There are over 100 types of arthritis. The most common forms are osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease) and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis usually occurs with age and affects the fingers, knees, and hips. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that often affects the hands and feet. Other types include gout, lupus, fibromyalgia, and septic arthritis. They are all types of rheumatic disease.
Arthritis is a term often used to mean any disorder that affects joints. Symptoms generally include joint pain and stiffness.Other symptoms may include redness, warmth, swelling, and decreased range of motion of the affected joints. In some types other organs are also affected. Onset can be gradual or sudden.
There are over 100 types of arthritis. The most common forms are osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease) and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis usually occurs with age and affects the fingers, knees, and hips. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that often affects the hands and feet. Other types include gout, lupus, fibromyalgia, and septic arthritis. They are all types of rheumatic disease.
Treatment may include resting the joint and alternating between applying ice and heat. Weight loss and exercise may also be useful. Pain medications such as ibuprofen and paracetamol (acetaminophen) may be used. In some a joint replacement may be useful.
The aim of this book is to put each and every individual who reads it in complete control and charge of their health.
Arthritis: An Introduction
Arthritis is a term often used to mean any disorder that affects joints. Symptoms generally include joint pain and stiffness.Other symptoms may include redness, warmth, swelling, and decreased range of motion of the affected joints. In some types other organs are also affected. Onset can be gradual or sudden.
There are over 100 types of arthritis. The most common forms are osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease) and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis usually occurs with age and affects the fingers, knees, and hips. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that often affects the hands and feet. Other types include gout, lupus, fibromyalgia, and septic arthritis. They are all types of rheumatic disease.
Treatment may include resting the joint and alternating between applying ice and heat. Weight loss and exercise may also be useful. Pain medications such as ibuprofen and paracetamol (acetaminophen) may be used. In some a joint replacement may be useful.
Osteoarthritis affects more than 3.8% of people while rheumatoid arthritis affects about 0.24% of people. Gout affects about 1 to 2% of the Western population at some point in their lives. In Australia and the United States more than 20% of people have a type of arthritis. Overall the disease becomes more common with age. Arthritis is a common reason that people miss work and can result in a decreased quality of life. The term is from Greek arthro- meaning joint and -itis meaning inflammation.
Classification
There are several diseases where joint pain is primary, and is considered the main feature. Generally when a person has arthritis it means that they have one of these diseases, which include:
Osteoarthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Gout and pseudo-gout
Septic arthritis
Ankylosing spondylitis
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis
Stills disease
Joint pain can also be a symptom of other diseases. In this case, the arthritis is considered to be secondary to the main disease; these include:
Psoriasis (Psoriatic arthritis)
Reactive arthritis
Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
Haemochromatosis
Hepatitis
Lyme disease
Sjogrens disease
Hashimotos Thyroiditis
Celiac disease
Non-celiac gluten sensitivity
Inflammatory bowel disease (including Crohns disease and ulcerative colitis)
HenochSchnlein purpura
Hyperimmunoglobulinemia D with recurrent fever
Sarcoidosis
Whipples disease
TNF receptor associated periodic syndrome
Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (and many other vasculitis syndromes)
Familial Mediterranean fever
Systemic lupus erythematosus
An undifferentiated arthritis is an arthritis that does not fit into well-known clinical disease categories, possibly being an early stage of a definite rheumatic disease.
Prevalence
Disability due to musculoskeletal disorders increased by 45% from 1990 to 2010. Of these, osteoarthritis is the fastest increasing major health condition.
Among the many reports on the increased prevalence of musculoskeletal conditions, data from Africa are lacking and underestimated.
A systematic review assessed the prevalence of arthritis in Africa and included twenty population-based and seven hospital-based studies. The majority of studies, twelve, were from South Africa. Nine studies were well-conducted, eleven studies were of moderate quality, and seven studies were conducted poorly. The results of the systematic review were as follows:
Rheumatoid arthritis: 0.1% in Algeria (urban setting); 0.6% in Democratic Republic of Congo (urban setting); 2.5% and 0.07% in urban and rural settings in South Africa respectively; 0.3% in Egypt (rural setting), 0.4% in Lesotho (rural setting)
Osteoarthritis: 55.1% in South Africa (urban setting); ranged from 29.5 to 82.7% in South Africans aged 65 years and older
Knee osteoarthritis has the highest prevalence from all types sites of osteoarthritis, with 33.1% in rural South Africa
Ankylosing spondylitis: 0.1% in South Africa (rural setting)
Psoriatic arthritis: 4.4% in South Africa (urban setting)
Gout: 0.7% in South Africa (urban setting)
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis: 0.3% in Egypt (urban setting)
Signs and symptoms
Pain, which can vary in severity, is a common symptom in virtually all types of arthritis. Other symptoms include swelling, joint stiffness and aching around the joint(s). Arthritic disorders like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis can affect other organs in the body, leading to a variety of symptoms. Symptoms may include:
Inability to use the hand or walk
Stiffness, which may be worse in the morning, or after use
Malaise and fatigue
