Most types of arthritis cause pain and inflammation or swelling in the joints. Joints are places where two bones come together (elbow, knee, hips, etc.). Over time, an inflamed and swollen joint can be seriously injured. Some types of arthritis can also cause problems in other organs, such as the eyes or skin.
There are several types of arthritis. A type of joint disease, arthrosis or osteoarthritis, is often associated with aging or with the presence of a previous injury. Other types occur when the immune system (which normally protects the body) attacks the tissues themselves. RA is the most common form of this type of arthritis.
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis is a variant of the disease that occurs in children. Infectious arthritis is usually caused by an infection that has spread from one body part to the joint.