It is not generally known that arthritis affects people of all ages, including children . In fact, some kinds of arthritis do tend to affect people in particular age groups, whilst others are more common in women than men.
Arthritis means inflammation of the joints.
It is a general term that acknowledges something is wrong and is not a diagnosis in itself. Symptoms often reveal themselves gradually so it is important to tell the doctor about any new or changed symptoms. Patients should be referred to and consult a rheumatologist. This is most common in hands, knees, hips, feet and spine. It usually develops gradually, over several years, and the cause is unknown.