Crippled by Rheumatoid Arthritis at young age - Dr Hitesh Kubadia, Orthopaedic and Joint Replacement Surgeon at Nova Specialty Hospitals

A rising number of youngsters are suffering from rheumatoid arthritis today. Even children are affected at times. What are the reasons for this?

25-year-old Siddharth Sinha was recently diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. The diagnosis came as a shock for him as the common belief is that arthritis affects people above 50. As per the WHO report, one in six people and one in three families suffer from arthritis in India. The alarming trend is that the disease now affects even the young lot.  As per the recent data, 25% patients belong to the age-group of 24 to 40 years.

Rheumatoid arthritis is not an inherited disease. Researchers believe that some people have genes that make them susceptible to the disease. People with these genes will not only automatically develop rheumatoid arthritis. There is usually a "trigger," such as an infection (often viral infection) or environmental factor, which activates the genes. When the body is exposed to this trigger, the immune system responds inappropriately and instead of protecting the joint, the immune system begins to produce substances that attack the joint. This is leads to the development of rheumatoid arthritis. Though Rheumatoid Arthritis can affect any age group, it more often affects the middle age group.

Although there is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis, there are a number of treatment options that can help relieve joint pain and improve the functioning of legs. The aim of the treatment is to attain remission. The treatment plan is tailored to the patient's needs and lifestyle. Rheumatoid arthritis is often treated by a team of healthcare professionals. These professionals may include rheumatologists, physical and occupational therapists and orthopaedic surgeons.

Juvenile Rheumatoid arthritis is known to have genetically complex traits in which multiple genes are important for disease onset and manifestations, and it is characterized by arthritis that begins before the age of 16 years, persists for more than 6 weeks, and is of unknown origin.

Causes of rheumatoid arthritis

There's a lot to love about winter; breathing crisp air, sipping hot chocolates and rugging up in thick coats and scarves. But stiff and sore joints can be a distinct down side to the cooler months; and there are plenty of people with arthritis who believe cold weather makes their condition worse.

Symptoms

In rheumatoid arthritis, the areas affected include the neck shoulders elbows wrists and hands especially the joints at the base and middle of the fingers but not the joints at the end of the fingers. In the lower extremities rheumatoid arthritis can affect the hips knees ankles and the joints at the base of the toes. Rheumatoid arthritis tends to spare the low back. The joints affected tend to be involved in a symmetrical pattern. That is if knuckles on the right hand are inflamed it is likely that knuckles on the left hand will be inflamed as well. This symmetry is not found as often in most other types of arthritis.

Fatigue in Rheumatoid Arthritis is due to many factors. It can be due to the inflammation which produces chemicals called cytokines that commonly cause fatigue. People with RA might have a mild anemia that also might contribute to fatigue and the sleep disturbance from night time pain may also be a factor. Finally people with RA tend to decrease their exercise and thus lose stamina and strength and this might also play a role in their fatigue.

Treatment

The immediate form of arthritis treatment involves relieving pain and reducing inflammation stop or slow down joint damage and improve function and patient well-being.

Since the disease may vary from person to person, the treatment program should be designed to best meet each person’s needs taking into account how severe the arthritis and individual lifestyle and preferences. Often the use of two or more medications at a time each serving a distinct purpose is necessary. Some of these medications can affect the immune system, making monitoring a requirement for treatment.

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