2. Defination :
Arthritis is a medical term used to describe a group of inflammatory disorders that
affect the joints in the body.
These conditions typically involve inflammation, pain, swelling, and stiffness in one
or more joints.
Arthritis can have various causes, including autoimmune reactions, wear and tear
on the joints, infections, and other underlying medical conditions. There are many
different types of arthritis, with the two most common being osteoarthritis and
rheumatoid arthritis.
3. Common areas of body affected by
arthritis
Arthritis is most common in the following areas of the body:
Feet.
Hands.
Hips.
Knees.
Lower back.
5. Symptoms of arthritis:
Swelling-Arthritis causes an abnormal enlargement of a part of the body. This is
due to the accumulation of fluid.
Pain- The feeling of constant pain in the many parts of the body
Stiffness- Stiffness in the muscles upon waking up, or sitting at one place for
long, upon waking up in the morning or after sitting at a desk. One may feel
stiffness in finger, wrist, elbow, knees, ankles, shoulder or in any other joint.
Fever, chills, fatigue, loss of appetite and headaches are some other common
symptoms of arthritis.
6. Diagnosis of arthritis:
The combination of radiography, laboratory test and physical examination may be
carried out. Diagnostic tests to diagnose arthritis include:
Ultrasound
MRI
Blood Culture
Joint X-Ray
Tear Test
Thyroid Function Test
Uric Acid Test
7. Treatment :
Arthritis can be treated by following methods:
Medication
Joint Replacement Surgery
Physical Therapies
Joint Assistive Aids
Weight Loss
