Arthritis

Arthritis is an illness that can cause pain and swelling in your joints. Joints are places where two bones meet, such as your elbow or knee. Some kinds of arthritis can cause problems in other organs, such as your eyes, or in your chest. It can affect your skin, too. These problems may be caused by inflammation, a swelling that can include pain or redness.

Types and Causes
There are several kinds of arthritis. The two most common are rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis is the most common form and usually comes with age. It most often affects the fingers, knees, and hips. Sometimes osteoarthritis follows an injury to a joint. For example, a young man might hurt his knee badly while playing football. Then, years after the knee has healed, he might get arthritis in his knee joint.

Rheumatoid arthritis happens when the body's own defense system doesn't work properly. It affects joints, bones, and organs--often the hands and feet. You may feel sick or tired, and you may have a fever.

Other conditions can also cause arthritis. Some include

• Gout, in which crystals build up in the joints. It usually affects the big toe.
• Lupus, in which the body's defense system can harm the joints, the heart, the skin, the kidneys, and other organs.
• Viral hepatitis, in which an infection of the liver can cause arthritis.

Symptoms
Most kinds of arthritis cause pain in your joints that make movement difficult. Some kinds of arthritis can affect different parts of your body. So, along with the arthritis, you may have a fever, lose weight, have trouble breathing, or get a rash or itch.

These symptoms may also be signs of other illnesses. Consult with your physician to learn why you are experiencing these symptoms.