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Arthritis.
Inflammation of the joints, the tendons end the tendon sheaths.
Autoantibodies. Antibodies are produced by the body to tight infection. The body
can produce antibodies against itself called autoantibodies.
Autoimmune diseases. Diseases caused by autoantibodies.
(See immune system).
Dactylitis. Inflammation of the bases of the fingers or toes. |
Disease modifying drugs.
Drugs used to halt or dampen down the disease process (e.g. methotrexate).
Enthesitis. Inflammation of the tendon at the point where it
attaches to bone.
Immune system. The body’s system for fighting infection. It includes antibodies
which are molecules that recognise, and bind to, organisms and ‘foreign’ molecules. It also includes the white blood cells which
can take up and kill organisms.
Immunosuppressant. a drug that dampens down the immune system.
Inflammation. Part of the body’s normal process in dealing with injury or
infection. There is an increased blood supply to the area,
allowing the white blood cells access to the area. White blood
cells produce substances which escalate this process. This
causes the warmth, swelling and redness associated with an
inflamed area.
Intra-articular.
Into the space within the joint. Applies to steroid injections
placed into the joint space used to control the local inflammation
within a specific joint.
Juvenile. Onset before the age of 16 years.
Ligaments. Bands of connective tissue uniting two bones. They help
stabilise joints, and are usually unstretchable.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Drugs which dampen down inflammation and are not
steroids,
e.g. ibuprofen.
Occupational therapy. Provides splints to support inflamed joints, and assesses the
need for help to maintain physical independence.
Pauci-articular JIA. Arthritis affecting up to 4 joints.
Polyarticular JIA. Arthritis affecting more than 4 joints.
Physiotherapy. Exercise programmes designed to improve and maintain the
range of movement of joints, and to maintain muscle power and
stamina to stabilise joints and improve fitness.
Range of movement (ROM). The angle that a joint can move through. This is often decreased
by inflammation.
Reactive arthritis. Arthritis following infections such as tonsillitis or gut infections.
Sacroiliac joints. Triangular bone at the base of the spine (the sacrum) where it
joins the pelvis (the sacroiliac joint).
Septic arthritis. Arthritis due to infection within the joint.
Splints. Supports made for joints that are inflamed to rest them and
maintain them in a good functional
position.
Spondyloarthropathy. A type of arthritis that can ultimately affect mainly the back, the
sacroiliac joints, the pelvis which connects the lower limbs to the
body, the feet and other joints in the lower limbs. The hands can
also be affected.
Steroids. A family of drugs, some of which are very effective at reducing
inflammation.
Still’s disease. Systemic onset JIA.
Systemic onset JIA. A type of arthritis that starts with ‘systemic’ symptoms: fever,
rashes, poor appetite, lethargy and enlarged glands.
Synovitis. Inflammation of the synovium. The synovium is the tissue which
lines the joint space.
Tendon. Fibrous tissue connecting muscle to bone.
Tenosynovitis. Inflammation of the synovial sheaths surrounding tendons.
Tendonitis. Inflammation of tendons.
Uveitis. Inflammation within the eye associated with some forms
of arthritis.
Vasculitis. Inflammation affecting blood vessels.
