David Edmondson, age 10, of Prescott, Ariz., for his question:
WHAT IS ARTHRITIS?
Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints of the body. The term
refers to all the conditions that cause stiffness, swelling, soreness or pain in the joints.
Medical authorities estimate that there are about 20 million people in the United States who suffer from some form of arthritis.
There are many different types of arthritis. When we speak of the disease, however, we usually mean one or two very common types: rheumatoid arthritis, which involves not only the joints but often other connective tissue, and osteoarthritis, a less serious problem which four out of five persons will have in some form during their lifetimes.
Rheumatoid arthritis often starts with inflammation of the synovial. membrane, a thin part of the joint that encloses the synovial fluid, a lubricating substance. The fluid then begins to thicken and accumulate, contributing to the swelling.
From a temporary inflammation of the synovial membrane often comes the growth of permanent granular tissue called pannus.
Osteoarthritis comes about from the wear and tear on the body's joints. Almost all people over the age of 50 years have osteoarthritis in some degree. It is often called old age rheumatism. It seldom causes crippling, but it produces painful knees, backs and fingers.
Osteoarthritis' treatment consists mainly of moderation of activity, use of heat, taking aspirin and, in severe cases, injections of cortisone drugs into the painful joints and the use of braces to reduce strain.
Rheumatoid arthritis sometimes progresses to produce joints that stiffen in deformed positions, producing crippling. Treatment includes a well balanced diet, adequate rest and sometimes the use of drugs.
Most people with arthritis suffer most just after they get out of bed in the morning. Their muscles feel stiff and often may hurt. Their joints may also be painful. The patient may be unable to move about freely until he has had a chance to loosen up a bit.
Another common morning symptom of arthritis is a tingling of the hands and feet, the parts of the body most often involved in arthritis.
One of the common types of arthritis is called gout. Crystals of uric acid are deposited in the tissues around the joints and these cause sudden attacks of swelling, particularly in the feet.
The tendency toward gout is hereditary and is not curable. However, it can usually be controlled by proper treatment which includes limiting the protein in the diet and using prescribed drugs which hasten the elimination of uric acid in the body.
Rheumatic fever, a childhood disease, has many manifestations, including problems of the heart and an inflammation of many joints, called polyarthritis.