روماتیسم rheumatism

Researchers think it's caused by a combination of genetics, hormones and environmental factors. Normally, your immune system protects your body from disease. With rheumatoid arthritis, something triggers your immune system to attack your joints.

An infection, smoking or physical or emotional stress may be triggering.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a type of arthritis where your immune system attacks the tissue lining the joints on both sides of your body. It may affect other parts of your body too. The exact cause is unknown. Treatment options include lifestyle changes, physical therapy, occupational therapy, nutritional therapy, medication and surgery.

What is rheumatoid arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that is chronic (ongoing). It occurs in the joints on both sides of your body, which makes it different from other types of arthritis. You may have symptoms of pain and inflammation in your:

• Fingers.
• Hands.
• Wrists
• Knees
• Ankles.
• Feet.
• Toes.

Uncontrolled inflammation damages cartilage, which normally acts as a “shock absorber” in your joints. In time, this can deform your joints. Eventually, your bone itself erodes. This can lead to the fusion of your joint (an effort of your body to protect itself from constant irritation).

Specific cells in your immune system (your body’s infection-fighting system) aid this process. These substances are produced in your joints but also circulate and cause symptoms throughout your body. In addition to affecting your joints, rheumatoid arthritis sometimes affects other parts of your body, including your:

• Skin.
• Eyes.
• Mouth.
• Lungs.
• Heart.

Who gets rheumatoid arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis affects more than 1.3 million people in the United States. It’s 2.5 times more common in people designated female at birth than in people designated male at birth.

What’s the age of onset for rheumatoid arthritis?

RA usually starts to develop between the ages of 30 and 60. But anyone can develop rheumatoid arthritis. In children and young adults — usually between the ages of 16 and 40 — it’s called young-onset rheumatoid arthritis (YORA). In people who develop symptoms after they turn 60, it’s called later-onset rheumatoid arthritis (LORA).

Symptoms and Causes

What are the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis affects everyone differently. In some people, joint symptoms develop over several years. In other people, rheumatoid arthritis symptoms progress rapidly. Many people have time with symptoms (flares) and then time with no symptoms (remission).

Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include:

• Pain, swelling, stiffness and tenderness in more than one joint.
• Stiffness, especially in the morning or after sitting for long periods.
• Pain and stiffness in the same joints on both sides of your body.
• Fatigue (extreme tiredness).
• Weakness.
• Fever.

Early Signs And Symptoms to Identify Juvenile Arthritis

Children who suffer from juvenile arthritis experience chronic pain, specifically in their joints. The pain can then be associated with joint swelling or increased warmth around the joint. A child suffering from the disease is likely to also start noticing limitations in joint mobility, especially after periods of rest (short or long durations). Children under the age of three may appear to be more clingy after periods of rest due to joint stiffness.

Juvenile Arthritis
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis was formerly known as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. It is the most common type of arthritis in children under the age of 16.
It can cause joint pain, swelling and stiffness. Treatments can control pain and inflammation, improve function and prevent damage. It is important to talk to your child’s provider if they have symptoms that last more than a week. This is especially important if a fever accompanies these symptoms.

Apart from joints, in some children, the eyes may also be affected and this tends to be asymptomatic. However, if inflammation of the eyes is not detected it can even lead to blindness in the long run. Hence doctors usually suggest an eye check every three months in children with certain subtypes of juvenile arthritis. Occasionally, the inflammation associated with systemic arthritis can affect different components of the blood, the liver and rarely the heart.

How to Combat Juvenile Arthritis?

Daily Check-Ups: Regular appointments with a pediatric rheumatologist are crucial for effectively planning, executing and monitoring necessary treatment plans. Depending on the subtype of arthritis, a rheumatologist may involve an ophthalmologist, physiotherapist and occupational therapist in your child’s care.

Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium, which is essential for building strong bones. Too little of this vital nutrient can lead to having thin, soft and brittle bones, known as osteomalacia in adults and rickets in children.

Studies also have found that a lack of vitamin D is linked to rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease characterized by swollen, aching joints and numbness and tingling in the hands and feet.

Are you getting enough vitamin D?

Your doctor can order blood tests to determine whether you’re getting enough vitamin D, but here are a few more telltale signs of a deficiency:

• Chronic pain or aches that last for weeks, similar to symptoms associated with rheumatoid arthritis
• Melancholy or depressed mood (though it’s not fully understood, vitamin D may increase the amount of chemicals in the brain that treat depression)
• Osteoporosis and brittle bones
• Fatigue and weakness that doesn’t seem normal
• Excessive sweating, especially on your forehead

Reference:

• my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4924-rheumatoid-arthritis
• endwellfamily.com/its-that-time-of-year-again-call-for-your-flu-shot
• keckmedicine.org/blog/could-more-vitamin-d-help-relieve-your-rheumatoid-arthritis
• india.com/health/what-is-juvenile-arthritis-5-signs-to-identify-joint-pain-and-swelling-in-kids-during-winter-6460975