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Arthritis is typically characterized by inflammation of the joints and there are more than 100 different types of arthritis. If not diagnosed and treated at the right time, it can cause irreversible damage to the joints, bones, skin, organs, etc. Accurate diagnosis here is really important it can be done by knowing about arthritis symptoms. People of any age can be affected; arthritis is noted at a 3-fold frequency in females than males. The most commonly noted symptoms of arthritis are chronic joint pain, joint pain or tenderness, inflammation of the joints, deformity of the joints, loss of joint movement and flexibility, unexplained weight loss, etc.
Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the 2 most frequent document forms of arthritis affecting mankind.
Osteoarthritis may be the case if there is pain in a joint along with progressive stiffness which manifests without any swelling, fever or chills during normal activities. Inflammation of the joints, painful swelling, stiffness in areas of the body including arms, legs, fingers, and wrists, noted in the same joints on either side of the body, apparent just after awakening, can be symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis occurring in children is termed juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and the symptoms can be loss of appetite, intermittent fever, anemia, weight loss, or blotchy rash all over the arms and legs, armpits, wrists and ankles, or knees. The pain and stiffness that can be noted in the joints can come on very quickly and this symptom of arthritis should still ring a bell running a medical check to rule out this possibility.
Some non-specific symptoms of arthritis affecting organs other than the joints can be swelling of glands like swollen lymph nodes. Some arthritis symptoms can also involve the abnormalities of the heart, lungs, eyes, skin nerves or kidneys. A sense of being unwell and fatigue are other non-specific arthritis symptoms. Though joint pain or accompanying inflammation is definitely an indicative symptom of arthritis, some of the first areas it can affect are the spine, knees, and feet. The joint at the base of the big toe and at the base of the thumb may be affected and this arthritis symptom should be the most tough to deal with as limited mobility in these joints can severely hamper day-to-day activities.
Owing to the pain and discomfort in the joints which have been recognized worldwide as symptoms of arthritis, sleep disruption is also a definite clue to look out for. If the pain is not obvious at first, perhaps the difficulty noted in walking, bending, turning taps or handles, can be a useful arthritis symptom to alert the person. The inflammation and pain should let up during the day as these joints loosen and should worsen if the person remains idle or sleeps.
