Sunday 28 August 2016

Early diagnosis and treatment of inflammatory arthritis key

Early diagnosis and treatment of inflammatory arthritis key New Delhi, 27th August, 2016: Inflammatory arthritis is a term used to describe a group of conditions that affect your immune system. This means that your body’s defense system starts attacking your own tissues instead of germs, viruses and other foreign substances, which can cause pain, stiffness and joint damage. They’re also known as autoimmune diseases. The three most common forms of inflammatory arthritis are Rheumatoid arthritis, Ankylosing spondylitis and Psoriatic arthritis These conditions are also called systemic diseases because they can affect your whole body. They can happen at any age. There’s no cure for these diseases at the moment, but the outlook for those diagnosed with inflammatory arthritis is significantly better than it was 20–30 years ago. Effective treatment begins much earlier and new drugs are available, which means less joint damage, less need for surgery and fewer complications. Inflammatory arthritis isn’t the same as osteoarthritis, which happens when the cartilage in your joint wears away. Stressing on the need to raise awareness about the symptoms of inflammatory arthritis to encourage early diagnosis, the IMA and Heart Care Foundation of India organised a webcast for both doctors and the public. The expert faculty for the same consisted of Dr. Mrs Vishal Kaura Aggarwal, Visiting Consultant in Rheumatology department at BLK Super Speciality Hospital and Max Smart Super Specialty Hospital, Saket New Delhi and Padma Shri Awardee Dr KK Aggarwal – President HCFI & Honorary Secretary General IMA. Raising awareness Dr KK Aggarwal said, "Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common type of autoimmune arthritis. It is triggered by a faulty immune system (the body’s defense system) and affects the wrist and small joints of the hand, including the knuckles and the middle joints of the fingers. Early diagnosis and treatment can control joint pain and swelling, and lessen joint damage. A person suffering from RA can perform low-impact aerobic exercises, such as walking, and exercises to boost muscle strength. This will help improve overall health and reduce pressure on the joints”. The following points on Inflammatory Arthritis were discussed: 1. Do not ignore arthritis in children 2. Do not ignore Joint pain, stiffness, back pain, which worsen on rest & improves with exercise or movement 3. Do not ignore high ESR, Positive CRP or high platelet count 4. Inflammatory arthritis is an acute medical emergency 5. Skin, Joint & Kidney involvement suggests auto immune disease 6. Squeeze test: squeeze mid carpel or mid tarsal (Mid palm or mid foot) & if Painful suggest Inflammatory poly arthritis 7. Back pain, stiffness responsive to NSAID- pain killers suggest inflammatory arthritis 8. Dry eyes can be a sign of underline autoimmune disorder 9. Chikungunya can precipitate underlying joint disease 10. Do not ignore Reynaud’s phenomenon 11. High uric acid is a marker of metabolic syndrome or early kidney disease 12. Asymptomatic high uric acid (<10) needs no treatment 13. Gout is uncommon in women 14. Alternating buttock pains, heel pains, chest pains may be markers of inflammatory arthritis

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