Musculoskeletal disease is the major cause of disability and handicap
in Australia, and arthritis is the most prevalent form of musculoskeletal
disease.
There is a widely held misconception that arthritis (or rheumatism)
is "something that happens to old people, which makes them a bit
sore". Nothing could be further from the truth, anyone from as young
as six months of age can develop arthritis. Most sufferers however
will get it between age 15 and 65 - "the productive years".
The effects of arthritis are far greater than making one a "bit
sore". Arthritis is a life sentence, a condition that impacts negatively
on a person's quality of life and includes varying degrees of discomfort
and pain.
It is well known that the incidence of arthritis increases with
age, but the incidence of juvenile arthritis is not nearly as well
appreciated.
"Arthritis" is a general term that refers to disorder of one or
more joints. There are more than 100 known types of arthritis, of
which five account for 90 per cent of cases:
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osteoarthritis (OA)
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rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
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fibromyalgia
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systemic lupus erythematosus
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gout
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One peculiarly Australian form of arthritis, Ross River virus,
is increasing in incidence with global warming.
These diseases can make even the simplest of tasks arduous and
painful chores. Many employees with arthritis rarely reach their
potential in their workplace and invariably retire young, relying
on the help of family and friends to perform the tasks of daily
living.
Arthritis often strikes young women after pregnancy and childbirth,
resulting in severe pain and disruption to family life. When children
are affected, they can develop lifelong disabilities.
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