Rheumatism Symptoms

Rheumatism is a non-specific term for medical disorders involving joints and connective tissues. It also refers to an acute or chronic disease of which the main features are pain and swelling of the muscles, ligaments and tendons, or the joints. In medical terminology, rheumatism arthritis is known as rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatism symptoms are quite similar to that of the osteoarthritis. However, there is a shade of distinction between these two conditions. In rheumatism arthritis, the lining in the joint experiences inflammation while in osteoarthritis, the wearing and tearing of joints and ligaments cause the painful condition. If you don’t go to medical experts for treatments, rheumatism can lead to denudation of bones and permanent distortion of joints. Osteoarthritis, though it causes pain, does not cause any permanent damage.

The Causes and Characteristics of Rheumatism

Rheumatism symptoms come in various forms. It is characterized by fever, intense soreness and pain. In its acute muscular type, the painful area becomes so sensitive in a sense that even a so weightless object can aggravate the pain. When treated improperly, rheumatism can lead to a chronic type. There is no definite cure for rheumatism arthritis. However, early diagnosis of its symptoms can be helpful to stop permanent damage. Oral medications, physical therapy and surgery for severe cases are good options. Rheumatism is believed to be a result of the body’s autoimmune malfunction. This malfunction makes the body attack the synovium or synovial fluid, leaving it inflamed. Synovial fluid is the gel-like lining on the soft tissue that functions as a protection of your joints. When the synovium is thickened by this inflammation, joints may be affected causing joints to misalign or misshapen.

The Demographic at Higher Risk

Studies have proven that more cases of rheumatism involve women. People whose ages play within the range of 40 and 60 are more likely to experience pain due to this illness. In the early stage of rheumatism, the sufferer may experience persistent pain in the joints associated with swelling. The tenderness of your joints to the touch is a symptom that indicates your susceptibility to pain due to rheumatism. Persistent fevers and chills are also symptoms of the illness. A person who is suffering from rheumatoid arthritis easily gets exhausted with some basic activities. It may be due to the pain that persists in certain joints. The illness can also be indicated by swollen hands that are burning hot and red to the touch.

Other symptoms of rheumatism include morning soreness in the limbs with prolonged symptom, a nodule like growth underneath the skin on their arms and a common symptom is a rapid weight loss. Symptoms experienced by those who suffer from rheumatism are also experienced by those who suffer from other types of bone or joint condition such as osteoporosis, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, and arthritis. If you identify any of the symptoms mentioned above, it is best for you to consult a doctor or any medical expert as soon as possible and get a proper diagnosis of your condition to prevent it from getting worse.

Rheumatism Symptoms among Children

Although rheumatism symptoms are more common among adults, the number of children suffering from the same condition is skyrocketing nowadays. Statistically, as much as 30,000 kids have now developed rheumatism.

When talking about rheumatism symptoms in children, it is known as an autoimmune disorder that manifests inflammation of the joints that can affect any children 15 years old and below. Similar to adult rheumatism, the exact cause cannot be determined but genetic factors are believed to be involved in this case. Typically, children with a family history of rheumatoid arthritis have high chances of developing the disease.

Also known as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis or JRA, rheumatism in children have three classifications:

1.) Polyarticular JRA

This condition is more common among girls than in boys. This is a very painful condition where at least five joints are inflamed. Typically, joints that are affected are those that receive a lot of weight such as the hands.

2.) Pauciarticular JRA

This is the condition where up to four joints can be affected with the inflammation. The joints that are usually inflamed are the wrists and the knees. There are also some cases where even the sufferer’s iris is affected.

3.) Systemic JRA

The rheumatism symptoms in this condition are somehow unique. It starts with an on and off type of hyperthermia at night but suddenly decreases at daytime. As the fever continues, generalized rashes will soon develop and enlargement of the lymph nodes will also take place. Finally, there will be an inflammation of the joints.

As mentioned earlier, the exact causes of rheumatism symptoms among children cannot specifically be detected. However, doctors believe that the autoimmune disease develops when the defense cells are unable to tell the difference between healthy cells and harmful agents. Instead of combating the harmful pathogens, the immune system’s white blood cells may destroy the healthy cells of the body. This aberrant process can develop the inflammation of the joints and this can be very painful for the child. Here are some visible signs of those rheumatism symptoms among children:

1.) Swelling of the joints associated with redness

2.) Painful sensations in the fingers, writs or the knee; Presence of abnormal heat and soreness may also be observed on the knee

3.) On and off appearance of rashes

4.) Stiffness of the joints, hips and the neck

5.) Developing hyperthermia at night and the body temperature decreases in the morning

6.) Steady decline in weight due to intermittent fever

7.) Inflammation of the iris together with the joints

To diagnose if the child is suffering from rheumatism symptoms, the doctor usually order a complete blood assay in order to determine the counts in the white blood cells, red blood cells and even the platelets. Tests are also implemented to detect any presence of bacterial infection in the blood. Furthermore, erythrocyte sedimentation rate are also done since the rate escalates when there is inflammation.

If a child is positive from experiencing rheumatism symptoms, the test detects the presence of the rheumatoid factor in the blood as well as the antinuclear antibody. If the inflammation of the iris is also present, the doctor can truly diagnose rheumatism.