Pediatric Arthritis & Other Rheumatic Diseases

Topic Index
 
Statistics
 
Anatomy of a Joint
 
About Pediatric Arthritis and Other Rheumatic Diseases
 
Diagnosing Pediatric Arthritis and Other Rheumatic Diseases
 
Common Types of Pediatric Arthritis and Other Rheumatic Diseases
 
Treatment for Pediatric Arthritis and Other Rheumatic Diseases
 
Living With a Rheumatic Disease
 
Glossary
 
Online Resources
 
Arthritis and other rheumatic diseases are characterized by pain, swelling, and limited movement in joints and connective tissues in the body. An estimated 46 million people in the US suffer from arthritis in one form or another, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.
 
Arthritis, which literally means inflammation of a joint (where two or more bones meet), actually refers to more than 100 different diseases. Rheumatic diseases include any diseases that cause pain, stiffness, and swelling in joints or other supportive body structures, such as muscles, tendons, ligaments, and bones. In fact, the group of arthritis diseases falls under the category of rheumatic diseases.
 
Arthritis and other rheumatic diseases are often mistakenly associated with old age, because osteoarthritis (the most common form of arthritis) occurs more often among elderly persons. However, arthritis and other rheumatic diseases affect people of all ages. Arthritis affects nearly 300,000 children in the US.

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