| ain common characteristics of the rheumatic conditions | | | | affects young people. Other example of |
| are represented by inflammations, followed by a | | | | spondyloarthopathy is Reiter's syndrome, an infection |
| disability of one of the body's supporting structures. | | | | of the bowel, the lower urinary tract and causes skin |
| The most affected by rheumatic diseases are the | | | | rashes, eye problems and mouth sores. |
| articulations, ligaments, bones, tendons and muscles | | | | * - Fibromylagia has a chronic character and gives the |
| that become painful, swollen and rigid. Some of the 100 | | | | articulations and the tissues that determine the bones |
| types of rheumatic disorders may affect the other | | | | to move, pain, rigidity, and localized sensitivity of the |
| organs. | | | | muscles and tendons. It especially affects the spine, |
| Some people generically call “arthritis” | | | | shoulders, hips and neck and causes the patient |
| any kind of rheumatic problem. But, unlike the other | | | | insomnia and tiredness. |
| conditions, arthritis only attacks the articulations. There | | | | * - Scleroderma, or systematic sclerosis affects the |
| are some rheumatic diseases that are considered | | | | skin, articulations and blood vessels, and, sometimes, |
| disorders of connective tissues, while others are seen | | | | internal organs. It is caused by an over increased |
| as auto immune. | | | | quantity of collagen inside the body. |
| Some rheumatic diseases are : | | | | * - Polymylagia rheumatica is very painful and causes |
| * - Rheumatic arthritis is a disease in which the | | | | rigidity of the shoulders, hips, neck and lower back, |
| synovium is swollen and very painful. The articulations | | | | especially in the morning. It affects tendons, muscles, |
| hurt, become rigid and are severely damaged or taken | | | | ligaments and everything that surrounds the |
| out of use. The articulations of the hand of the feet | | | | articulations. In time, it may degenerate into giant cell |
| are the most affected. Rheumatic arthritis is a | | | | arthritis, a disorder that affects the arteries and |
| symmetrical disease, which affects 1% of the | | | | generates weight loss, fever, swelling and weakness. |
| population, only in the U.S. | | | | * - Gout is a type of arthritis generated by the |
| * - Juvenile rheumatic arthritis is the most frequent | | | | deposits of uric acid crystals in the articulations. Has as |
| arthritis that affects children. Most of the symptoms | | | | main symptoms inflammation, swelling, and almost |
| are common to those of the adults, but there are | | | | unbearable pain |
| others to be added such as rashes and fever | | | | * - Psoriatic arthritis affects only people with psoriasis. |
| * - Osteoarthritis affects the cartilages and makes | | | | It mostly affects the fingers and toes' articulations and |
| them wear away. It causes pain of the articulations, | | | | it modifies the aspect of the nails. In case it touches |
| rigidity, and in case it touches the spine, disables it ,the | | | | the spine, back pain is added to the symptoms |
| knees and hips, too. It is the most frequent form of | | | | * - Infectious arthritis is caused by viruses or bacteria. |
| arthritis and it affects over 21 millions of Americans | | | | Two examples are gonococcal arthritis and parvovirus |
| * - Systematic lupus erythematosus has a auto | | | | arthritis. The symptoms of arthritis often appear in |
| immune character. The healthy cells and tissues are | | | | Lyme disease. This disease is generated by bacterial |
| damaged by the organism's own means of protecting | | | | infection that occurs after the bite of some ticks. |
| itself against infections. The inflammation produced by | | | | An early diagnosis is vital to prevent a serious damage. |
| this disease attacks the skin, the articulations, the | | | | * - Tendinitis is, as the name says, a disorder of the |
| kidneys, the brain, the blood vessels, the heart and the | | | | tendons. They become inflamed, painful and extremely |
| lungs. | | | | sensitive and produce restriction of movement |
| * - Spondyloarthopathies that mostly attack the spine | | | | * - Bursitis is produced by the swelling of the bursae, it |
| have, as any common form of ankylosing spondylitis. | | | | generates sensitivity and pain and limits the |
| The spine is followed by the shoulders, hips and knees, | | | | movements of the close articulations |
| then the inflammation extends over the tendons and | | | | * - Polymyositis weakens and inflames the muscle. It |
| ligaments, which become painful and rigid. It mostly | | | | may cause disability, in case it affects the entire body. |