Polyarthritis isn’t a specific type of arthritis; rather, it is a term used when five or more joints are affected by arthritis simultaneously. This condition can result from various causes, including autoimmune diseases and infections. In some cases, polyarthritis may develop into a specific type of autoimmune disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or Sjogren’s syndrome. However, it often resolves on its own and does not recur.
Joint inflammation in polyarthritis is characterized by one or more signs of inflammation, including pain, movement restriction, swelling, warmth, and redness in the affected joints. When pain is the sole symptom, differentiating polyarthritis from other causes of polyarticular joint pain (PJP), such as fibromyalgia or osteoarthritis, becomes challenging.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a form of autoimmune arthritis affecting approximately 1.28 to 1.36 million adults in the United States. It is three times more prevalent in women than in men and commonly impacts the joints in the hands, wrists, and knees. The joint damage caused by RA can lead to chronic pain, lack of balance, and joint deformity.
The term “inflammatory arthritis” refers to arthritis resulting from autoimmune diseases that affect multiple joints throughout the body. In these conditions, the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own tissues, leading to inflammation and damage.
Symptoms of polyarthritis can include deformed joints, hard bumps of tissue (nodules) under the skin on your arms, and joint pain and inflammation on both sides of the body.
Autoimmune arthritis encompasses types of arthritis where the body’s immune system attacks its own tissues. The most common type is rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an autoimmune disease.
Cleveland Clinic
Healthline
PMC
Verywell Health
Verywell Health
Medical News Today
Healthline
Medical News Today
