A very complex disease of the connective tissue and gradually destroying the joints is rheumatoid arthritis. Not only adult patients, but also children can suffer from it. That is why the therapy of the disease should begin immediately, chronic forms of this pathology should not be allowed.
What it is?
In people, this pathology is known as rheumatism of the joints, which has an infectious-allergic nature. Mostly teenagers suffer from such an ailment. This disease is considered a pathology of the young. Adults and older people suffer from it much less often. Unlike other forms of this disease, rheumatoid arthritis is reversible, that is, with timely treatment, pathology can be completely cured. But if you leave it unattended, then over time, complications such as heart disease or endomyocarditis begin to develop. This disease most often appears in young patients no younger than six years old and no older than sixteen.
Features of the disease
This diagnosis has spread in European countries and in the United States. It is much less likely to suffer from it in Asian countries, and in African such a pathology does not occur at all.
Modern experts have already established the exact causes of this disease. First of all, it is rheumatism suffered earlier, provoked by flu, pharyngitis, sinusitis or tonsillitis. As for the child, even a common cold, hypothermia, malnutrition, or emotional or physical overwork can provoke pathology.
Failures in the immune system occur due to infectious foci. This becomes the cause of pathology. Also, its appearance may be preceded by the entry into a weakened organism of group A beta hemolytic streptococci, due to which tonsillitis occurs. Therefore, you should not disregard this disease, but self-medication can be very dangerous.
No less frequent factor in the development of rheumatoid arthritis in children are considered disorders of the autonomic nervous system.
Signs of the disease
The process of the occurrence of pathology is quite complicated. Toxins of this ailment have a bad effect on the state of the body, because of which the immune system produces antibodies attacking its own tissues, which are considered foreign. The result of this reaction is the inflammatory process that occurs in the joints, which appears only a few weeks after the infection.
Further, the disease begins to develop very quickly, affecting primarily large joints (most often the knee joint). There is acute pain, a tumor that occurs due to the accumulation of inflammatory fluid, as well as redness of the skin around the diseased joint, deformed due to destruction of the cartilage tissue, and body temperature rises. A characteristic symptom of rheumatoid arthritis is its rapid spread. Pathology quickly passes from one joint to another, paired, as a result of this, polyarthritis appears. Sometimes with such a movement, pain in the first joint may disappear. This change of localization can occur on average every two to three days. A person experiences severe pain even with minimal mobility.
Forecast
In total, rheumatoid arthritis lasts no more than three weeks. When the highest point of development of the disease is reached, acute inflammation of the joints passes. Movements become free, and their amplitude is restored, the pain disappears and goes to other joints. But in the end, she leaves completely even in the absence of any treatment.
In this feature lies the insidiousness of this disease, since subsequently this pathology affects both the external and internal membranes of the heart. The course of the disease can be reduced to several days if modern treatment methods are used.
The presence of the above symptoms makes it possible to distinguish between rheumatic and rheumatoid arthritis. The second is characterized by an autoimmune nature.
Types of pathology
This disease is divided into types depending on the speed of the disease.
Most often, any one mild symptom is characteristic of a protracted type of rheumatoid arthritis. Its treatment is very long and takes about six months.
In the event that, with the development of a pathology, its symptoms are practically absent, a latent type of disease occurs. It is impossible to detect it by any diagnostic method. Only after a heart disease has formed, the disease itself is revealed.
The undulating course of the disease is characteristic of a continuously recurring type of pathology. There are bright exacerbations and incomplete remissions, as well as progressive ailments of many organs. For children, this process is very unfavorable due to frequent cases of formation of valvular heart disease.
Acute rheumatoid arthritis develops rapidly, and its symptoms are very intense, affect the internal organs and have high intoxication. This species has a rather complex pathogenesis, which requires a quick response and intensive treatment. Only then can a favorable forecast be expected. Otherwise, delayed therapy will not have time to give the expected effect.
A subacute type of pathology arises and develops much more slowly. In children, its clinical signs are not so pronounced.
Forms and manifestations of the disease
- Rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by migratory pains and swelling in large joints or polyarthralgia in small joints. This form in itself is not dangerous, since no changes occur in the joints. But it should be remembered that the cause of the pathology was the rheumatic process that arose due to infection. And if left without treatment, the heart is in danger.
- In almost all cases, an organ lesion called rheumatic heart disease occurs. With it, each shell individually, and all of them together, can suffer. The acute onset of this form of the disease is accompanied by polyarthritis, and the symptoms of a protracted course are not so diverse. The only symptom here is heart damage.
- In the primary pathological process, myocarditis does not have a vivid clinical picture and severe course. The patient notes discomfort or tolerable pain in the region of the heart, and with little physical exertion a slight shortness of breath or tachycardia appears. In the future, recurrent myocarditis is characterized by bright heart pains and extrasystole. Very often, with this form, the disease progresses, disrupting blood circulation and reducing the contractility of the myocardium.
- The most unfavorable form of the disease is endocarditis, which has such varieties as valvular, parietal and chordal. The first of them, called valvulitis, causes the most trouble for both the diseased and the doctor. This variety affects the valvular apparatus of the heart. The aortic and mitral valves most often suffer, much less often - tricuspid valves.
- Concomitant acute rheumatic fever, pericarditis has mild signs, therefore it is rarely detected, but often develops. Symptoms of this kind quickly disappear and respond well to treatment.
If you miss a clear picture of the active process in the first stage, then the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis can be significantly complicated due to the formation of heart disease, impaired blood circulation and the transition of the pathology into a chronic relapsing course.
Nervous System Disorders
In most cases, this pathology provokes severe heart damage. But this disease, although to a lesser extent, can adversely affect the nervous system. Especially often, such changes are found in girls.
Erratic, violent muscle movements that occur anywhere can occur. This phenomenon is called choreic hyperkinesis.
It becomes difficult for a child to control his movements; he cannot do anything on his own (to stand still or walk).
With general muscular dystonia, hypotension predominates over already flabby muscles. Often, against the background of this process, vegetovascular dystonia appears.
As a result of psychopathological disorders, emotional instability appears, provoked precisely by the rheumatic process, and not by a lack of education or a transitional age.
Dependence of pathology on age and gender
In primary school children of both sexes, the pathological process usually begins acutely and has a large number of symptoms. In adolescence, girls often suffer from this ailment. The process begins with slowly developing rheumatic heart disease. Against this background, a heart defect occurs, and the disease itself becomes lingering and relapsing.
Adult boys constitute a special group of patients with this disease. It is characterized by an acute onset and clearly expressed signs. In most cases, timely therapy guarantees complete recovery, but about 10% of young people still have a heart defect formed against the background of pathology.
The treatment of the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis is not necessary for adults, since they practically do not suffer from it. But at the same time, there are frequent cases of the development of recurrent rheumatic heart disease (mainly in women). Heart disease is protracted and progressive, and more than ten years later combined and congenital heart defects occur.
Prevention measures, specialist supervision and adequate treatment can improve the quality of life and save the situation.
Rheumatoid arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis: differences
Despite the common articular syndrome, these are different diseases that have their own signs and causes. The first is considered a mild pathology, passing without a trace with timely therapy. Rheumatoid arthritis is considered an autoimmune disease leading to muscle atrophy and joint deformation, as well as affecting internal organs.
Unlike rheumatoid arthritis, the etiology of rheumatoid arthritis is unknown today. This pathology manifests itself gradually, slowly, without an acute onset. The pains are mild chronic and affect small joints first. Soon a characteristic feature of the rheumatoid process appears - joint deformation.
But the main difference between rheumatic and rheumatoid arthritis is that, in comparison with the first, the outcome of the second disease is less favorable.
Diagnosis of rheumatic disease
First of all, the specialist collects an anamnesis, focusing on recent infections. Further, in order to identify the symptoms of the process, he conducts an examination. An important role in the diagnosis of pathology is played by a detailed blood test.
Also the primary measures include material from the throat for the presence of streptococcus, an electrocardiogram. In severe illness in children and young people, an X-ray examination is prescribed to diagnose the changes. But on the first attack, it does not provide much information. Ultrasound will help to determine the absence or presence of a defect.
Drug therapy
Her course usually includes anti-inflammatory, antipyretic and specific anti-rheumatic drugs. To suppress streptococcus, a penicillin group of antibiotics is needed, and with them, in order to prevent dysbiosis, probiotic drugs are needed. A vitamin course selected by a specialist will help strengthen the body and increase immunity.
Physiotherapy
It has contraindications in the acute period and is used only after it. These measures improve blood circulation, have a warming effect and restore normal nutrition of joint tissue.
Physiotherapeutic procedures complete the therapeutic course, and it is better to carry them out in the conditions of spa treatment.
How to treat rheumatoid arthritis folk remedies?
They can be quite effective in the treatment of such a pathology. Folk remedies can eliminate pain and ease the general condition of the patient, but they should not be used independently.
You can add curry or turmeric to milk and food. And lubricate the affected joints with celandine. Every day, before going to bed, you can apply compresses from propolis or a decoction of chamomile.