Is Arthritis a disease of old age?
No, not at all. One of my patients relative asked me that arthritis should be disease of old age. I heard his views and then i thought i will clear some myths.
If we consider all major rheumatic diseases and arthritis by and large these are disease of young and middle age group. Following are some of the age groups and respective Rheumatic diseases
1) Ankylosing spondylitis (HLA B27 disease)
Age - young boys ( 16-40)
2) Rheumatoid arthritis
Age - middle age females(40-60ys, can be seen in as young as 14 yrs and as old as 90yrs)
3) Systemic lupus erythematosus .
Age - young girls (20-30 yrs) .
4) Gout (incresed uric acid disease) .
Age - middle aged men .
5) Vasculitis .
Age - middle aged to elderly(50-60) .
Can be seen in young population.
I have two young vasculitis patients in early 30s
6) sjogrens syndrome- dry eyes & dry mouth disease.
Age - Middle aged females.
7) Osteoarthritis (knee degeneration disease)
Age - females more than males age more than 40yrs.
These are few examples. Apart from these many diseases like takayasu arteritis are also seen in young females.
#Rheumatology
#Arthritis pain
#knowyourdoc
