Arthritis
Definition
Inflammation of a joint that may lead to changes in the joint's structure. It causes pain and swelling.Arthritis is a joint disorder featuring inflammation. A joint is an area of the body where two different bones meet. A joint functions to move the body parts connected by its bones. Arthritis literally means inflammation of one or more joints.
Causes
The causes of arthritis depend on the form of arthritis. Causes include injury (leading to osteoarthritis), metabolic abnormalities (such as gout and pseudogout), hereditary factors, the direct and indirect effect of infections (bacterial and viral), and a misdirected immune system with autoimmunity (such as in rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus).Sign and Symptoms
Many of the forms of arthritis, because they are rheumatic diseases, can cause symptoms affecting various organs of the body that do not directly involve the joints. Therefore, symptoms in some patients with certain forms of arthritis can also include fever, gland swelling (swollen lymph nodes), weight loss, fatigue, feeling unwell, and even symptoms from abnormalities of organs such as the lungs, heart, or kidneys.Treatments
Treatments available include physical therapy, splinting, cold-pack application, paraffin wax dips, anti-inflammatory medications, pain medications (ranging from acetaminophen [Tylenol] to narcotics), immune-altering medications, and surgical operations.According to Etiology Arthritis may be classified, most important are as follows
bacterial arthritis
arises
from penetrating wounds, extension from adjacent tissues or by
hematogenous spread, especially umbilical infection in the newborn. More
common in farm animals than dogs and cats. Some specific causes are
erysipelas in pigs and sheep, Streptococcus spp. in pigs, calves and lambs, coliforms in calves, Haemophilus spp. in pigs (Glasser's disease) and lambs, Arcanobacterium spp. in lambs, and Chlamydophila pecorum in calves and lambs.
corynebacterial arthritis
a nonsuppurative arthritis and bursitis of lambs caused by Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis.
deforming arthritis
see erosive arthritis (below).
degenerative arthritis
see degenerative joint disease.
drug-induced arthritis
a
number of antibiotics, particularly sulfonamide-trimethoprin, may cause
an immune-mediated arthritis and other clinical signs, including
glomerulonephritis, polymyositis and thrombocytopenia.
enteropathic arthritis
arthritis
of unknown etiology, but associated with bowel disease such as
ulcerative colitis and regional enteritis in humans. A similar condition
has been recognized in dogs.
erosive arthritis
characterized
by the erosion of articular cartilage and destruction of subchondral
bone which is dramatically demonstrated radiographically. Generally
these are the immune-mediated joint diseases and include canine
rheumatoid arthritis (below), polyarthritis in Greyhounds, feline chronic progressive polyarthritis. Called also deforming arthritis.
erysipelas arthritis
occurs
sporadically in calves, more commonly in lambs and as a major disease
in pigs. In all species it is an acute or chronic, nonsuppurative
arthritis.
fibrinous arthritis
the
acute inflammatory stage of most infectious arthritides. The joint
fluid is increased in volume and is turbid and mucinous, the fibrin
appearing as a particulate deposit on the serous surface.
idiopathic nondeforming arthritis
occurs
in dogs and uncommonly in cats in the absence of systemic lupus
erythematosus or chronic infectious systemic disease. It may involve one
or several joints with fever, lameness and muscle atrophy. The disease
may be chronic and cyclic with spontaneous remissions and recurrences.
Presumed to be immune-mediated.
immune-mediated arthritis
noninfectious joint disease involving immune mechanisms. Seen mainly in dogs and cats. See also nonerosive arthritis (below).
infectious arthritis
may
be caused by bacteria, mycoplasma, virus, fungus, rickettsiae, or
protozoa in the joint only or as part of systemic infection.
mycoplasma arthritis
Mycoplasma hyosynoviae and M. hyorhinis cause arthritis in pigs, the former with an accompanying polyserositis.
neonatal arthritis
localization
from a systemic infection in the joints causing septic arthritis, often
in several joints, and infection in other vulnerable organs. Neonatal
susceptibility is due to availability of the umbilical vessels as a port
of entry and an inadequate defense until maternal antibodies provide
passive immunity. Called also navel ill, omphalitis.
nonerosive arthritis
includes
those without significant radiographic changes. Includes the arthritis
that occurs in association with canine systemic lupus erythematosus and
chronic systemic infections, enteropathic arthritis and idiopathic
nondeforming arthritis.
persistent proliferative arthritis
see periosteal proliferative polyarthritis.
retroviral arthritis
the
arthritis of goats caused by a retrovirus. The syndrome also includes
encephalitis and pneumonia. Called also big-knee.
rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
a
chronic, autoimmune disease of dogs that causes swelling and lameness
in joints, often accompanied by systemic signs of fever, malaise and
lymphadenopathy. The erosive, destructive changes in joints can be
demonstrated on x-rays. The disease is similar to that described in
humans and the diagnosis is usually based on satisfying criteria used
for humans.
septic arthritis
acute arthritis due to infection of a kind likely to establish a bacteremia or septicemia.
traumatic arthritis
may
be caused by trauma that penetrates the joint capsule, introducing
infectious agents and resulting in an infectious arthritis, or injures
articular cartilage or soft tissues supporting the joint.
Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary, 3 ed. © 2007 Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved
Citations:
For Dorland's Medical Dictionary:arthritis. (n.d.) Dorland's Medical Dictionary for Health Consumers. (2007). Retrieved October 14 2012 from http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/arthritisFor The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary:arthritis. (n.d.) The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary. (2007). Retrieved October 14 2012 from http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/arthritisFor Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine:arthritis. (n.d.) Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine. (2008). Retrieved October 14 2012 from http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/arthritisFor Mosby's Medical Dictionary:arthritis. (n.d.) Mosby's Medical Dictionary, 8th edition. (2009). Retrieved October 14 2012 from http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/arthritisFor Miller-Keane Encyclopedia:arthritis. (n.d.) Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition. (2003). Retrieved October 14 2012 from http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/arthritisFor Dictionary of Complementary and Alternative Medicine:arthritis. (n.d.) Jonas: Mosby's Dictionary of Complementary and Alternative Medicine. (2005). Retrieved October 14 2012 from http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/arthritisFor Dental Dictionary:arthritis. (n.d.) Mosby's Dental Dictionary, 2nd edition. (2008). Retrieved October 14 2012 from http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/arthritisFor Veterinary Dictionary:arthritis. (n.d.) Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary, 3 ed.. (2007). Retrieved October 14 2012 from http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/arthritisFor McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine:arthritis. (n.d.) McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine. (2002). Retrieved October 14 2012 from http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/arthritis |
0 comments