Different Types Of Arthritis

Arthritis or inflammation of the joints is the leading cause of disability among the elderly worldwide. Millions of old people suffer from arthritis pain such as swollen joints, redness, stiffness in the morning, fatigue and even fever. It all begins from small areas of the body such as wrists, ankles, hands and eventually spread to larger areas such as shoulders, arms, back, hips and even neck area. Fundamental to understanding arthritis is learning that there are various types of arthritis, no less than a hundred forms. As a general overview of the types of arthritis, this article would feature common types of arthritis that affects millions of people worldwide. Being equipped with the knowledge of the different types of arthritis help people cope by taking the right precautions that would prevent the progress of arthritis.

The following are the most common types of arthritis afflicting people:

Rheumatoid arthritis – this form of arthritis exhibit swelling or inflammation of the joints. This type of arthritis can have an early onset age as early as 40s, especially among women. The synovial lining of the joints is usually attacked and thereby gets swollen. Immediate treatment should be sought since deformity of bones is possible in such cases. Even younger people such as children maybe suffer from rheumatoid arthritis.

Osteoarthritis – This type is characterized by reduced elasticity of the cartilage which is most often weakened by stretching and excessive physical activity. Cartilage is important since it absorbs the shock to our joints thus loss of this material would lead to quick wear and tear of the joints itself. Pain results from bones rubbing against one another. When this happens, the person with OA has limited mobility.

Infectious arthritis - This occurs when an infection penetrates the synovium thereby enabling the bacteria, fungi or viruses to travel through the bloodstream and infect tissues and joints. Individuals that have previous infections have a high probability of having this type of arthritis that is why it is crucial to seek treatment for any illness since infection can cause more damage later.

Juvenile arthritis ( JRA ) – Children under 16 yrs of age can suffer from JRA. Usually, they are anemic and have fever along with painful joints. It has various forms which indicate the degree of severity of arthritis in a child.

There are still many types of arthritis but the ones mentioned are the most common form. Don't let arthritis worsen. Consult a doctor today.