ARTHRITIS

ARTHRITIS

INTRODUCTION / DEFINITION

Arthritis from Greek arthro, joint it is the inflammation, and is a form of joint disother that involve inflammation of one or mpre joints.

Arthritis is a serious disease that causes pain and limitation of movement which occur due to inflammation and degenerative condition of the joints

TYPES OF ARTHRITIS

The main types of Arthritis are:

1) Osteoarthritis
2) Rheumatoids Arthritis

Osteoarthritis involves wear and tear damage of joints cartilage the hard,slick coating on the ends of bones. Enough damage can result in bone grinding directly on bone which may cause pain and restricted movement.

This wear and tear can occur over many years or it can be hastened by an injury of infection

Rheumatoid Arthritis this occur when the body immune system attacks the lining of the joint capsule, this lining known as the synovial membrane become imflamed and swollen. The disease process can eventually destroy cartilage and bone within the joint.

If left untreated the arthritis can lead to deformity and it is more common in women than men and generally strikes when the patient is aged between 40 and 60. However, children and much other people may also be affected. Other types of Arthritis includes

3)Infectious arthritis(septic arthritis)

4) juvenile Rheumatoid arthritis( it affect a person aged 16 or less)

5) Gout
6)Lupus
7)psoriatic arthritis

RISK FACTORS OF ARTHRITIS

1) Family histroy: when the arthritis is running in the family one may be more likely to develop it

2)Age: The risk to some specific arthritis is determine by age

3) Sex: women are more likely to develop rheumatoid Arthritis than men while some people who have other types are men

4) Previous joint injury

5) Obesity

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

1) Swelling of one or more joints
2)Reoccuring pain or tenderness in any joint
3)Early morning stiffness
4)Mental depression
5) Unexplained weight loss,fever or weakness
6)Inability to move joint as normal
7) Poor sleep
8) Malaise and fatique
9) Muscle aches and pains

COMPLICATIONS

1) Deformity
2)Mental depressed

MANAGEMENT

1) Adequate bed rest: the bed most be firm and the patient must be correctly positioned to prevent deformities

2) Isometric exercises mentain the muscle function

3) Application of heat ans cold as an analgesic

4)Diet: Well balanced diet and incase of obesity weight reducing diet

Medication: No specific medication but doctor may prescribe some drugs such as analgesic to control pains ,Antibiotics to inhibit the growth of organisms

Also surgical procedure may be implemented to correct deformed joints