Arthritis facts for kids

Arthritis is a name for a group of diseases that affect your body's joints. It means your joints become inflamed (swollen and painful). Arthritis can make your joints hurt, swell up, and feel stiff. It can be hard to move around when you have it. Arthritis is usually a long-lasting condition.

What Are the Different Kinds of Arthritis?

There are over 100 different types of arthritis! The most common ones are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and gout.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis happens when the cartilage (a smooth, slippery tissue) between your bones wears away. This makes your bones rub against each other, which can be painful. This type of arthritis is more common in older people. It often affects the hips, knees, lower back, and neck. Doctors can give you medicines to help with the pain and keep you moving.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease. This means your body's immune system accidentally attacks its own healthy tissues, especially in the joints. It often starts in the wrists and knuckles. This type of arthritis usually begins when people are between 20 and 40 years old, but children and older adults can get it too. There are medicines that can slow down this disease and help with the pain. It's important to treat rheumatoid arthritis early.

Gout

Gout causes sudden, very bad pain and swelling. It often affects the big toe, but it can also show up in heels, ankles, hands, wrists, or elbows. Gout happens when you have too much uric acid in your blood. This acid can form tiny, sharp crystals that settle in your joints. These crystals can build up in your joints, ligaments, and tendons, causing a lot of discomfort.

Arthritis is more common in older people. Both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis affect women more often than men. Animals, like dogs and cats, can also get arthritis.

Images for kids

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  Illustration of gout affected foot.

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  Bone erosions by rheumatoid arthritis.

See also

In Spanish: Artritis para niños