Understanding arthritis - symptoms

What are the symptoms of arthritis?

Joint pain and progressive stiffness without noticeable swelling, chills, or a temperature during normal activities probably indicate the gradual onset of symptoms of osteoarthritis.

Painful swelling, inflammation, and stiffness in the fingers, arms, legs, and wrists occurring in the same joints on both sides of the body, especially on awakening, may be signs of rheumatoid arthritis.

Fever, joint inflammation, tenderness, and sharp pain, sometimes accompanied by chills and associated with an injury or another illness, may indicate septic arthritis.

In children, joint pain and swelling, intermittent fever, loss of appetite, weight loss, and anaemia, or blotchy rash on the arms and legs may signal juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

Seek medical advice about arthritis if:

• The pain and stiffness come on quickly, whether from an injury or an unknown cause; you may be experiencing the onset of rheumatoid arthritis.
• The pain is accompanied by fever; you may have septic arthritis.
• You notice pain and stiffness in your arms, legs, or back after sitting for short periods or after a night's sleep; you may be developing osteoarthritis or another arthritic condition.
• A child develops joint pain or a rash, or has temperature swings, poor appetite, and weight loss; the child may have juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.