Infectious arthritis
In some cases, arthritis can develop as part of a bacterial or viral infection. If a bacterial infection is involved, early diagnosis and treatment with antibiotics may relieve the arthritis symptoms and cure the disease.
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
Juvenile rhuematoid arthritis is a chronic condition that causes inflammation in one or more joints and begins before the age of 16. It is the most common type of arthritis in children. Symptoms include pain, stiffness, swelling, and loss of function in the joints. The arthritis may be associated with rashes or fevers, and it may affect other parts of the body.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis in the United States. This arthritis often results from years of accumulated "wear and tear" on joints, and tends to occur in the elderly in hips, knees, and finger joints. In people over 55 years of age, women are most likely to suffer from osteoarthritis.
Psoriatic arthritis
This condition occurs in some patients with psoriasis, a common scaling skin disorder. Psoriatic arthritis often affects the joints at the ends of the fingers and causes changes in the fingernails and toenails.
Reactive arthritis
Reactive arthritis can develop after an infection of the lower urinary tract, intestines, or other organs. It is commonly associated with eye problems, skin rashes, and mouth sores.
Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic, autoimmune disease that affects the entire body and is one of the most common forms of arthritis. It is characterized by the inflammation of the membrane lining the joint, which causes pain, stiffness, warmth, redness and swelling. Rheumatoid arthritis affects 2.1 million Americans-mostly women-and onset is usually in middle-age, but often occurs in the 20s and 30s.