Background

Condition Lookup

Sub-Category:

Arthritis

Number of Conditions: 2

Osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease)

Specialty: Orthopedics and Rheumatology

Category: Joint Disorders

Sub-category: Arthritis

Symptoms:
joint pain; stiffness; swelling; reduced range of motion; crepitus (grating sensation)

Root Cause:
Degeneration of joint cartilage and underlying bone, leading to pain and stiffness.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical evaluation, X-rays, MRI scans, and sometimes joint aspiration.

Treatment:
Lifestyle modifications, physical therapy, weight management, medications, and in severe cases, surgical interventions like joint replacement.

Medications:
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for pain and inflammation; acetaminophen for pain relief; corticosteroid injections for inflammation; hyaluronic acid injections to lubricate joints.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects approximately 19% to 30% of adults above the age of 45.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Age, joint injuries, obesity, genetics, gender (more common in women), and repetitive joint stress.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Chronic condition with symptoms manageable through treatment; progression varies among individuals.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Joint deformities, decreased mobility, and in severe cases, disability.

Septic arthritis (infectious arthritis)

Specialty: Orthopedics and Rheumatology

Category: Joint Disorders

Sub-category: Arthritis

Symptoms:
severe joint pain; swelling; redness; fever; chills; limited range of motion

Root Cause:
Bacterial infection in the joint, leading to inflammation and potential joint destruction.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Joint aspiration to analyze synovial fluid, blood cultures, and imaging studies.

Treatment:
Intravenous antibiotics, joint drainage, and supportive care.

Medications:
Intravenous antibiotics (e.g., ceftriaxone , vancomycin ) tailored to the causative organism; analgesics for pain management.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects approximately 2 to 10 per 100,000 people annually; more common in infants, elderly, and immunocompromised individuals.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Immunocompromised state, joint prosthesis, recent joint surgery, intravenous drug use, and chronic medical conditions like diabetes.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Requires prompt treatment; delays can lead to joint destruction and systemic complications.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Joint destruction, sepsis, and systemic spread of infection.