Health Tips - Polyarthritis

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

This manifestation is more marked in adults than in children. The big joints are principally affected, e.g. knees, ankles shoulders and wrists, but almost any joint may be involved. Characteristically there is a migrating polyarthritis, that is to say the pain tends to move from one joint to another, one getting better as another becomes worse. In severe cases the joints become hot, swollen red and exquisitely tender. The periarticular tissues are principally involved. Sterile effusions may develop however there are no residual effects in the joints once the acute attack is over. These are seen most often inchildhood and their principal importance lie in the almost invariable association with active cordites. They are situated subcutaneously, are painless, not attached to the skin and tend to occur over bony prominences or be attached to tendons. Elbows, backs of hands, knees, malleable skull, scapulae and vertebrae are the most common sites. Rheumatic nodules are seen far less frequently than 20 years ago. Reddish patches appear mainly on the trunk and rapidly enlarge to form irregular crescent shapes which join together to form larger areas. The margins are slightly elevated. The lesions tend to disappear and reappear over a short period of time.