Rheumatic diseases may affect the joints, skin, and internal organs. In arthritis, primarily the joints are affected. Arthritis affects about 37 million Americans of all ages. It is a serious disease that causes pain and loss of movement, especially movement relied upon for everyday activities. Some of the most common types of arthritis are rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, lupus, scleroderma, and gout.
Juvenile arthritis is a general term for all types of arthritis occurring in children.
Each type has a distinctive pattern. The cause has been determined for only a few forms of arthritis. Untreated Lyme disease, which is caused by a bacterium, may progress to infectious arthritis, causing joint pain and swelling. Even at this stage, Lyme disease can be treated. However, no one knows for sure what causes the majority of cases of arthritis.