Arthralgia

Arthralgia (Template:Ety) literally means 'joint pain'.<ref name="medterms_arthralgia">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="jgh_arthralgia">Template:Cite web</ref> Specifically, arthralgia is a symptom of injury, infection, illness (in particular arthritis), or an allergic reaction to medication.<ref name="drugReaction">Template:Cite web</ref>

According to MeSH, the term arthralgia should only be used when the condition is non-inflammatory, and the term arthritis should be used when the condition is inflammatory.<ref name="title">Template:Cite web</ref>

Causes

The causes of arthralgia are varied and range, from a joints perspective, from degenerative and destructive processes such as osteoarthritis and sports injuries to inflammation of tissues surrounding the joints, such as bursitis.<ref name="nihbook_2">Template:Cite web</ref> These might be triggered by other things, such as infections or vaccinations.<ref name="Gardasil">Template:Cite web</ref>

Cause	Mono- or polyarticular	Speed of onset
Rheumatoid arthritis	Polyarticular <ref name="agabegi2nd6-8">Template:Cite book</ref>	Weeks–months<ref name="Chan1994">Diagnosis lag time of median 4 weeks, and median diagnosis lag time of 18 weeks, taken from: Template:Cite journal</ref>
Systemic lupus erythematosus	Polyarticular<ref name="agabegi2nd6-8" />	Months<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
Viral arthritis	Polyarticular<ref name="agabegi2nd6-8" />
Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Reactive arthritis	Polyarticular<ref name="agabegi2nd6-8" />
Rheumatic fever	Polyarticular<ref name="agabegi2nd6-8" />
Lyme disease	Polyarticular<ref name="agabegi2nd6-8" />
Gonococcal arthritis	Polyarticular<ref name="agabegi2nd6-8" />
Drug-induced arthritis	Polyarticular<ref name="agabegi2nd6-8" />
Ligamentous laxity	Polyarticular<ref name="agabegi2nd6-8" />
Osteoarthritis	Monoarticular<ref name="agabegi2nd6-8" />
Gout attack	Monoarticular<ref name="agabegi2nd6-8" />	Hours<ref name="Harwood-Nuss2009" />
Pseudogout	Monoarticular<ref name="agabegi2nd6-8" />
Behcet's Disease	Monoarticular<ref name="agabegi2nd6-8" />
Physical trauma	Monoarticular<ref name="agabegi2nd6-8" />	Immediate
Septic arthritis	Monoarticular<ref name="agabegi2nd6-8" />	Hours<ref name="Harwood-Nuss2009">Page 740 (upper right of page) in: Template:Cite book</ref>
Hemarthrosis	Monoarticular<ref name="agabegi2nd6-8" />
5HT2-antagonists<ref name=mirtaartha>Template:Cite journal</ref>
Henoch-Schonlein purpura<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Diagnosis

Diagnosis involves interviewing the patient and performing physical exams. When attempting to establish the cause of the arthralgia, the emphasis is on the interview.<ref name="jgh_arthralgia"/> The patient is asked questions intended to narrow the number of potential causes. Given the varied nature of these possible causes, some questions may seem irrelevant. For example, the patient may be asked about dry mouth, light sensitivity, rashes or a history of seizures.<ref name="jgh_arthralgia"/><ref name="spondyl_table1">Template:Cite web</ref> Answering yes or no to any of these questions limits the number of possible causes and guides the physician toward the appropriate exams and lab tests.

Treatment

Treatment depends on a specific underlying cause. The underlying cause will be treated first and foremost. The treatments may include joint replacement surgery for severely damaged joints, immunosuppressants for immune system dysfunction, antibiotics when an infection is the cause, and discontinuing medication when an allergic reaction is the cause. When treating the primary cause, pain management may still play a role in treatment.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

See also

• Antiarthritics
• Myalgia

External links

• Joint Pain When It Rains: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment // METEOAGENT