Research already has greatly improved the understanding of arthritis and has provided many useful treatments. People of all ages, including children and young adults, can develop arthritis. Some people seem to inherit a tendency to develop certain kinds of arthritis. Research indicates that there may be a subtle defect in their immune systems. Perhaps arthritis is more easily triggered by something, such as a virus, in these people.
Proper treatment depends on which disease is present.
Different types of arthritis can be hard to tell apart and can affect people differently. No matter which type of arthritis is present, treatment works best when it is begun early in the disease. Diagnosing arthritis sometimes takes several visits to the doctor and several tests, which may include blood tests, urine tests, X rays, tests of fluid from the joints, and examinations of small bits of muscle or joint tissue. None of these tests alone will prove that a certain type of arthritis is or is not present. But the overall pattern of results from tests, X rays, and physical examinations helps doctors make the right diagnosis.