| Arthritis is a medical term that implies inflammation of | | | | arthritis occurs due to accumulation of uric acid in the |
| joint(s). Causes of this illness are diverse and involve | | | | body which might be caused by faulty diet habits or |
| many pathological mechanisms. The causes of arthritis | | | | congenital metabolic abnormalities. Rheumatologic |
| are either infective or non-infective. However, | | | | causes are numerous and lead to inflammation of the |
| whatever the cause is, it leads to pain, tenderness and | | | | joints due to autoimmune related mechanisms. |
| limitation of movements of the affected joint(s) in most | | | | Systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, |
| cases. | | | | rheumatic fever, ankylosing spondylitis and reactive |
| Infective causes of arthritis are numerous and include | | | | arthritis are amongst the commonest causes of |
| viral, bacterial, fungal and parasitic causes. Hepatitis A | | | | rheumatologic inflammation of joints. Rheumatologic |
| virus, Hepatitis B virus, Hepatitis C, Alphaviruses, Rubella | | | | arthritis is commonly accompanied by other systemic |
| virus, Retroviruses, Epstein-Barr virus, Varicella-zoster | | | | manifestations such as fever, skin rash, eye |
| virus and Mumps virus are recognizable causes of | | | | inflammation, nephritis and inflammation of the blood |
| arthritis. Bacterial arthritis is sometimes termed septic | | | | vessels (vasculitis). |
| arthritis and is usually caused by Staphylococcus | | | | Osteoarthritis is one of the types of arthritis that are |
| aureus and Streptococci. Septic arthritis is usually | | | | related to aging. Osteoarthritis often affects people |
| caused by spread of infection from nearby bones | | | | beyond the age of 50 years and commonly affects |
| (osteomyelitis). Bacterial arthritis is rather common in | | | | the knees. Other rather uncommon causes of arthritis |
| the pediatric age group. Fungal causes of arthritis | | | | include leukemia, bone tumors and amyloidosis. |
| usually affect immune-compromised individuals like HIV | | | | Whatever the cause of arthritis is, arthritis should be |
| infected patients. Lyme disease is one of the | | | | differentiated from isolated pain of the joints |
| recognizable infective causes of arthritis in America. | | | | (arthralgia). Arthritis leads to arthralgia, but is also often |
| Non-infective causes of arthritis are numerous and are | | | | accompanied by swelling, hotness, tenderness and |
| related to many pathological mechanisms. Gouty | | | | limitation of movement of the affected joint(s). |