Common types of arthritis
Following are the more common types of rheumatic diseases.Osteoarthritis: The most common type of arthritis, which affects over 20 million American adults. Osteoarthritis primarily affects cartilage, which is the tissue that cushions the ends of bones within the joint. In osteoarthritis, the cartilage begins to wear down and wear away. Osteoarthritis can cause joint pain and stiffness. Disability from osteoarthritis results most often when the disease affects the spine and the weight-bearing joints (the knees and hips).
Rheumatoid arthritis: An inflammatory disease of the synovium, or lining of the joint, which results in pain, stiffness, swelling, joint damage, and loss of function of the joints. Inflammation most often affects joints of the hands and feet and tends to occur equally on both sides of the body. This symmetry helps distinguish rheumatoid arthritis from other forms of the disease. About one percent of the U.S. population (about 2.1 million people) has rheumatoid arthritis.
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis: The most common form of arthritis in childhood, causing pain, stiffness, swelling, and loss of function of the joints. The arthritis may be associated with rashes or fevers, and may affect various parts of the body.
Fibromyalgia: A chronic disorder charactarized by pain throughout the tissues that support and move the bones and joints. Pain, stiffness, and tenderness can occur in the muscles and tendons, neck, spine, shoulders, and hips. Other symptoms of fibromyalgia include extreme fatigue and sleep disruptions.
Lupus: Systemic lupus erythematosus (also known as lupus or SLE) is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system harms the body's own healthy cells and tissues. This can result in inflammation of and damage to the joints, skin, kidneys, heart, lungs, blood vessels, and brain.
Spondyloarthropathies primarily affect the spine. One common form, ankylosing spondylitis, can also affect the hips, shoulders, and knees. The tendons and ligaments around the bones and joints become inflamed, resulting in pain and stiffness. Ankylosing spondylitis tends to affect people in late adolescence or early adulthood.
Reactive arthritis, sometimes called Reiter's syndrome, is another spondyloarthropathy. It develops after an infection involving the lower urinary tract, bowel, or other organ and is commonly associated with eye problems, skin rashes, and mouth sores.
Gout: This type of arthritis results from deposits of needle-like crystals of uric acid in the joints. The crystals cause inflammation, swelling, and pain in the affected joint, which is often the big toe.
Infectious arthritis: This is a general term used to describe forms of arthritis that are caused by infectious agents, such as bacteria or viruses. Parvovirus arthritis and gonococcal arthritis are examples of infectious arthritis. Arthritis symptoms may also occur in Lyme disease, which is caused by a bacterial infection following the bite of certain ticks. In those cases of arthritis caused by bacteria, early diagnosis and treatment with antibiotics are crucial to get rid of the infection and minimize damage to the joints.
Bursitis: This condition involves inflammation of the bursae, the small, fluid-filled sacs that help reduce friction between bones and other moving structures in the joints. The inflammation may result from arthritis in the joint or injury or infection of the bursae. Bursitis produces pain and tenderness and may limit the movement of nearby joints.
Tendinitis (or tendonitis): This condition refers to inflammation of tendons (tough cords of tissue that connect muscle to bone) caused by overuse, injury, or a rheumatic condition. Tendinitis produces pain and tenderness and may restrict movement of nearby joints.