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Arthritis is a degenerative disease, which tends to affect a person's joints. The American Heritage dictionary defines arthritis as "inflammation of a joint, usually accompanied by pain, swelling, and stiffness, and resulting from infection, trauma, degenerative changes, metabolic disturbances, or other causes." There are approximately 100 types of arthritis including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and septic arthritis.

Osteoarthritis

The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis. This is the type that most people associate with the term arthritis. OA is a degenerative joint disease in which progressive loss of cartilage causes pain and inflammation. Osteoarthritis affects joints like the knees, hips and spine the most because of their role as weight-bearing joints.

Osteoarthritis is, unfortunately, a relatively normal part of aging. Certain people are at risk for developing osteoarthritis earlier than others, however. People who are overweight or who have suffered certain types of injuries, as well as highly athletic people, increase their risk of developing arthritis at a younger age due to the increased wear and tear on the protective cartilage in their joints.

Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that can affect people as young as 25 years old. It is the second most common form of arthritis and is more likely to affect women than men. Rheumatoid arthritis can cause permanent damage to joints and could even result in deformity. It can also damage the heart, lungs, eyes, nerves and muscles. Because of its destructive and debilitating nature, rheumatoid arthritis needs to be carefully managed so it is important to get diagnosed as soon as possible.

Juvenile RA

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is a form of arthritis that affects children under the age of 16 and is seen more often in girls. If you have a child who has pain, swelling and stiffness in her joints, as well as problems sleeping and walking you may want to have her evaluated for JRA. This illness can cause inflammatory eye disease, which could lead to blindness, so it is important to get a child diagnosed as soon as possible. JRA could also harm organs like the heart, liver and spleen, if it is systemic JRA. Fortunately, children are usually able to overcome juvenile arthritis with proper treatment.

Gout

Gout is a form of arthritis that usually affects one joint at a time. The most common joint to be affected is the big toe, although gout can also affect other areas like the knee, ankle or foot. It very rarely affects the spine. Gout is caused by abnormal deposits of uric acid crystals in the joint cartilage. Sudden and severe attacks of pain, tenderness, redness, warmth and inflammation are characteristic of arthritis. This type of arthritis is found more in men than in women.

Septic arthritis

Septic arthritis is a bacterial infection of the joint. In this type of arthritis, germs damage the joint, which causes severe pain. Knee joints are the most commonly affected although other joints can be affected as well. Septic arthritis is usually found in one joint at a time. In order to limit the amount of damage that septic arthritis can cause, prompt treatment with antibiotics is essential.

For more information on these, and other arthritis conditions visit Mayoclinic.com, Webmd.com or the Arthritis Foundation website at arthritis.org.

Learn more about this author, Veronica Beaudry.
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