Medical Weblog

Arthritis is an inflammation of any joint or joints. Arthritis most often affects joints in the fingers, toes, wrists, ankles, elbows, knees, shoulders, hips, jaw, and spine. Six types of arthritis are common to childhood: rheumatoid arthritis; acute rheumatic fever; infectious arthritis; allergic arthritis; arthritis following a viral infection; and arthritis of rubella.

Rheumatoid arthritis can occur at any age past one year old. So far the cause is unknown. It may affect one or several joints. The joints become swollen, warm, stiff, and mildly to moderately painful, but not usually red. The neck is affected in 50 percent of the cases. Arthritis may appear months before or after other signs of illness, such as fever, irritability, loss of appetite, and a fine pink rash.

Arthritis associated with acute rheumatic fever, usually affects many joints, which become red, swollen, and extremely tender. Other symptoms of general illness (including fever) are also present.

Infectious (purulent) arthritis is an inflammation within a joint caused by various bacterial diseases (including staphylococcal, streptococcal, pneumococcal, and salmonella infections). This type of arthritis most often occurs in infants less than one year old. In older children and adults, it can be caused by puncture wounds near the joints. In this type of arthritis, the joint is tender, swollen, and red. The child usually has a fever.

In allergic arthritis the joints are stiff, swollen, and red, but pain is slight. The disease is caused by an allergic reaction to insect stings, medications, foods, or small particles inhaled from the air. It is generally accompanied by hives.

Post-viral arthritis occurs after an illness caused by a virus. The symptoms are similar to those from other causes of arthritis, especially rheumatoid arthritis. Post-viral arthritis corrects itself without treatment.

Arthritis of rubella occurs as a complication of German measles (rubella) or as a reaction to a rubella vaccine, especially in older children. Arthritis of rubella usually corrects itself without treatment and usually causes no permanent damage.

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