Polyarthritis - causes and signs of polyarthritis

The following types of this disease can be distinguished:

• Rheumatoid polyarthritis is a process that is usually not associated with the infection that has entered the joint, but ultimately leads to chronic damage to several joints. This disease affects connective tissue and is a rather severe systemic disease.
• Infectious polyarthritis occurs as a result of an infection. This disease can occur after tuberculosis, brucellosis, gonorrhea. If you apply timely treatment for the disease that caused polyarthritis, the disease goes away quite quickly.

• Crystal (metabolic) polyarthritis is a disease that occurs due to the fact that a metabolic disorder occurs in the human body. Its main cause is the accumulation of salts in the joints. It is the salt crystals that irritate the joint, and as a result, inflammation develops.
• Psoriatic polyarthritis is a disease that always develops after psoriatic skin lesions. It manifests itself after six to eight months. This disease mainly affects the joints in the feet.
• Reactive polyarthritis - this type of polyarthritis is provoked by an infection entering the body. The focus of the disease can be localized in the lungs or in the genitourinary system. As a consequence of reactive polyarthritis, polyneuritis, conjunctivitis, and colitis may develop.

Causes

The cause of infectious polyarthritis may be previous infectious diseases (viral hepatitis, gonorrhea, dysentery, etc.).

Metabolic polyarthritis may occur as a result of metabolic disorders.

Post-traumatic polyarthritis may occur as a result of local trauma or various allergic reactions.

As for the causes of rheumatoid polyarthritis, today experts do not have a single opinion about them, and they are considered undetermined in practice.

Symptoms

The symptoms of this disease are determined by its type and why it arose. For infectious arthritis, which occurs against the background of an infection, the appearance of redness over the joint, swelling of the skin in this area, as well as limited mobility are very characteristic.

Rheumatoid polyarthritis in the early stages can manifest itself as sensitivity of the joints to changes in weather conditions. At first, the patient may not feel severe pain, and small swellings over the joints may be barely noticeable to the eye. Appetite may also decrease, weight may decrease, and temperature may rise.

Children's polyarthritis can begin to develop after the child reaches two years of age. The disease is manifested by limited joint mobility and pain. Polyarthritis in children is most often a symmetrical lesion of the joints, which is accompanied by an increase in lymph nodes.

If symptoms are detected, you must consult a rheumatologist.

Diagnostics

Polyarthritis can be diagnosed after a comprehensive examination. The diagnosis is usually made on the basis of laboratory diagnostics, life history, disease history, CT results of joints, arthrography, thermography, microbiological and cytological examination of synovial fluid.

You can make an appointment with a rheumatologist in a special section on our website.

If you do not start treating polyarthritis in time, then joint damage and other disorders may appear, which will become irreversible over time.

Treatment

Only a doctor should determine what methods will be used to treat polyarthritis. This is especially true for rheumatoid arthritis, the main treatment for which is completely aimed at reducing the period of exacerbation of the disease. The main medications for this disease are prescribed by a rheumatologist. Very often, the patient needs hospitalization during an exacerbation, as well as treatment in a sanatorium, which will be aimed at preventing an exacerbation. With metabolic polyarthritis, a strict diet is followed, which excludes fatty, spicy, spicy foods and alcohol.

Prevention

It is also necessary to start treating all emerging infectious diseases in a timely manner. It is very important to take into account that excess weight, heavy loads, poor nutrition and injuries can contribute to the occurrence of this disease.

First of all, to prevent polyarthritis, it is very important to follow the basic rules of a healthy lifestyle. Daily gymnastics, physical activity will strengthen muscles and joints. It is also very important to harden the body.