Arthritis means "disease of or damage to the joints" and rheumatism is a more general term used to describe pain in and around bones, muscles and joints. The term "Rheumatic Disease" is used to refer to all types of arthritis and rheumatism.

Unknown to many, about one in a thousand children in the UK suffer from chronic (persistent) arthritis during the early years of their life. It often starts between their first and fourth birthdays, but can occur at any time throughout childhood.

There are around 200 different types of Rheumatic disease, and they fall into four main Categories:

1) Inflammatory Arthritis
In these disorders, the joint becomes inflamed. This can damage the surface of the joint and underlying bone. Rheumatoid Arthritis is an example, but there are many other forms of inflammatory arthritis, including:
i) gouts,
ii) reactive arthritis,
iii) arthritis associated with colitis or psoriasis,
iv) rarer disorders that can affect many parts of the body.

2) Osteoarthritis
This is a common condition where the cartilage becomes thinner and damaged an extra bone forms at the edges of the joints. It can result from abnormal stress on the joints, or from many different forms of injury or joint disease.

3) Soft Tissue Rheumatism
Pain can arise from irritation of tissues around joints, such as ligaments and tendons. Minor injury or overuse can result in localised pain which often lasts only for a short period. “Tennis Elbow” and “Housemaids Knee” are examples. In addition, more generalised pain can develop in the muscles or joints without arthritis.

4) Back Pain
This common problem can arise from muscles, discs, ligaments, bones and joints. Often it is not possible to find the exact cause of the pain. Certain forms of inflammatory arthritis, such as ankylosing spondylitis, can affect the spine, and osteoarthritis can also affect the back.