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Arthritis (Adult)
Background
There are over two hundred kinds of arthritis (some are rare, some more common), which fall into three categories: inflammatory, non-inflammatory and connective tissue. Arthritis affects people of all ages, including children (see entry Arthritis Juvenile Idiopathic). In fact, some kinds of arthritis do tend to affect people in particular age groups, whilst others are more common in women than men.
Arthritis means inflammation of the joints. It is a general term that acknowledges something is wrong and is not a diagnosis in itself. Because there are so many different forms of arthritis, diagnosis can take a while and involve multiple visits to your GP or specialist (rheumatologist) and a lot of tests. Symptoms often reveal themselves gradually, so it is important to tell the doctor about any new or changed symptoms. Patients should be referred to and consult a rheumatologist.
