Arthritis is often seen as a disease that affects the elderly but it can affect people of all ages. According to the Arthritis Foundation, two-thirds of people with arthritis are under the age of 65. And more people in their late 30s and 40s are now being diagnosed with the condition
Some signs and symptoms of arthritis require urgent medical care. If you have any of the following, you should seek medical care as soon as possible:
- One or more swollen joints
- Fever
- Weight loss
- Inability to function due to joint pain or swelling
- Overall sense of feeling ill, accompanied by fever, joint swelling and joint pain
- Sudden weakness of specific muscle groups
- Burning pain, numbness or a pins-and-needles sensation around joints.
Symptoms depend on the type of arthritis you have:
Osteoarthritis may include joint pain and progressive stiffness that develops gradually. The patient may also suffer from joint inflammation, inability to use the hand or difficulty walking, tiredness, weight loss, poor sleep.
Rheumatoid arthritis may include painful swelling, inflammation, and stiffness in the fingers, arms, legs, and wrists occurring in the same joints on both sides of the body, especially upon awakening. The patient may also suffer from inability to use the hand or walk, tiredness, weight loss, poor sleep.
Ankylosing spondylitis may cause constant pain and stiffness in the lower back, inability to perform simple everyday actions due to stiffness, even fever and tiredness.
Infectious arthritis may include intense pain, joint redness and swelling, fever and chills.
Gout arthritis usually shows up as a sharp pain in the big toe with swelling and tenderness. It usually occurs at night. It can affect other joints too.
Juvenile Arthritis may present with stiff joints, limping, joint pain on either side of the body, inflammation around a joint, unexplained fevers, loss of appetite.
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