THE MOST COMMON RHEUMATIC DISORDERS IN THE US PT 2

Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

This condition is usually seen in children and younger women. The most common symptoms of the disorder include pain and swelling in the joints, fever, and rashes across the body.

Lupus

Also known as Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, this condition affects many of the vital organs in the body. Common symptoms of the disorder include joint pain and stiffness, fatigue, sensitivity to sunlight, rashes across the body, hair loss, and blue/white fingers and toes during colder seasons. The patients also experience kidney problems, blood disorders such as low levels of WBC and anemia, chest pain, etc. Sometimes, lupus can also lead to seizure or stroke.

Gout

This condition happens when crystals of uric acid build up in a joint. Usually, it affects the big toe on both feet and the other parts nearby. Common symptoms of gout include severe pain in the feet (typically in the big toes, but the pain can also be in the knees, ankles, or fingers), discomfort in walking, and inflammation in the joints.

Scleroderma

This condition is commonly seen to affect children aged between 2 to 14. The disorder is associated with hardening of the skin, as well as the underneath tissues and muscles. A severe form of the condition can even affect the blood vessels and vital organs of the body. The common symptoms of scleroderma include calcium lumps under the skin, digestive problems, dryness in the eyes and mouth, swelling and stiffness in the joints, and thickened skin on the hands and fingers.

Infectious Arthritis

This condition is usually caused due to an infection in the joints. The common symptoms include severe pain and swelling in the hips and knees. Sometimes, it can lead to inflammation and irritation in the ankles and wrists as well.

Polymyalgia Rheumatica

This condition is usually seen to affect older women, and the symptoms can come slowly or suddenly, depending upon the severity of the disorder. The most common symptoms of the inflammatory disease include fever, low appetite, weight loss, and pain and stiffness in the hips, thighs, or neck. Some patients experience swelling and stiffness in the upper arms and shoulders as well.

Reactive Arthritis

This condition is usually caused because of the infection in the genitals, urinary tract, or the intestines. Common symptoms of the rheumatic disorder include pain when urinating, redness and irritation in the eyes, blurred vision, and pain and swelling in the knees, feet, and ankles. Some patients also experience inflammation of the tendons, pain in the lower back, spondylitis, and sacroiliitis.