Patient Education
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Information
- Paget's disease typically occurs in an older population.
- Signs of Paget’s disease of bone include: pain associated with bones and joints, headaches, hearing loss, enlargement or bowing of bones, tingling or numbness.
- A physician needs to evaluate the condition to make sure there are no related problems.
- Effective and safe treatment methods can help most people with Paget's disease.
Paget's disease of bone is an uncommon, chronic bone disorder that occurs in only about one percent of people in the United States and slightly more often in men than in women (3 to 2). Individuals with Paget's disease experience rapid isolated bone repair, which causes a variety of symptoms from softer bones to enlarged bone growth, typically involving one or more bones of the pelvis, low back (spine), hips, thighs, head (skull) and arms. This can lead to problems such as bending, breaking, pinched nerves, arthritis and reduced hearing. Medical therapies have proven effective in reducing the frequency of pain, fractures and arthritis that may be caused by this condition.
Source: American College of Rheumatology
Information
- PFAPA usually resolves spontaneously during the second decade of life.
- Steroids given at the start of an episode usually end it, but the result may be more frequent episodes.
- Removing the tonsils in children with many episodes may cure the disease.
- Episodes may affect the quality of life of the child and the family and result in many missed days of school. There is no danger to the long-term health of the child.
Periodic Fever, Aphthous Stomatitis, Pharyngitis, Cervical Adenitis (PFAPA) is a syndrome that consists of recurrent episodes of fever, sore throat, mouth sores and swelling of the glands in the neck. The frequency of PFAPA is not known, but the disease appears to be more common than originally thought, and may be the most common recurrent fever syndrome that does not come from an infection. Both males and females and all ethnic groups can develop PFAPA. PFAPA usually starts in early childhood, between the ages of 2 to 5 years. Occasionally PFAPA may develop at an older age, including rare cases in adults.
It is not yet known what causes this disorder. No gene defect has yet to be found in PFAPA, although sometimes more than one family member has the disease and a history of a tonsillectomy (surgical removal of the tonsils) may be reported among family members. No infection has been found in PFAPA, and it is not a contagious disease. It is clear that the inflammatory process is active during episodes, but it is not clear why this happens.
Source: American College of Rheumatology
INformation
- The typical polymyalgia rheumatica symptoms (what you feel) of PMR are aching and stiffness about the upper arms, neck, lower back and thighs.
- These symptoms develop quickly are worse in the morning.
- Polymyalgia rheumatica symptoms respond promptly to low doses of corticosteroids, but may recur as the dose is lowered.
Polymyalgia rheumatica (sometimes referred to as PMR) is a common cause of widespread aching and stiffness that affects adults over the age of 50, especially Caucasians. Because polymyalgia rheumatica does not often cause swollen joints, it may be hard to recognize. It may occur with another health problem, giant cell arteritis.
The average age when symptoms start is 70, so people who have PMR may be in their 80s or even older. The disease affects women somewhat more often than men. It is more frequent in whites than nonwhites, but all races can get PMR.
Source: American College of Rheumatology
Information
- Psoriatic arthritis is a chronic arthritis. In some people, it is mild, with just occasional flare ups. In other people, it is continuous and can cause joint damage if it is not treated. Early diagnosis is important to avoid damage to joints.
- Psoriatic arthritis can occur in people without skin psoriasis, particularly in those who have relatives with psoriasis.
- Psoriatic arthritis typically affects the large joints, especially those of the lower extremities, distal joints of the fingers and toes, and also can affect the back and sacroiliac joints of the pelvis.
- For most people, appropriate treatments will relieve pain, protect the joints, and maintain mobility. Physical activity helps maintain joint movement.
- Psoriatic arthritis is sometimes misdiagnosed as gout, rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis.
Psoriatic arthritis is a type of inflammation that occurs in about 15 percent of patients who have a skin rash called psoriasis. This particular arthritis can affect any joint in the body, and symptoms vary from person to person. Research has shown that persistent inflammation from psoriatic arthritis can lead to joint damage. Fortunately, available treatments for are effective for most people.
Psoriatic arthritis usually appears in people between the ages of 30 to 50, but can begin as early as childhood. Men and women are equally at risk. Children with psoriatic arthritis are also at risk to develop uveitis (inflammation of the middle layer of the eye). Approximately 15 percent of people with psoriasis develop psoriatic arthritis. At times, the arthritis can appear before the skin disorder.
Source: American College of Rheumatology
