Polyarthritis
Overview
Polyarthritis is any type of arthritis which involves five or more joints — an inflammation of two, three or four joints is an oligoarthritis
Causes
Polyarthritis is most often caused by an auto-immune disorder such as Rheumatoid arthritis, Psoriatic arthritis, and Lupus erythematosus but can also be caused by infections such as Ross River Virus.
Diagnosis
The importance of diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis cannot be overemphasized — early intervention with DMARDs has been shown to improve long-term outcomes, and once joint damage has occurred erosion and joint instability are irreversible. If rheumatoid arthritis is mild and in its early stages many rheumatologists favour using hydroxychloroquine because it is safe and convenient. If control is suboptimal after 2 months, additional DMARDs are often prescribed. A recent study reported some efficacy with minocycline for patients with early seropositive rheumatoid arthritis. However, long-term efficacy data for patients treated with minocycline are not available, and radiographs show that damage progresses at the same rate as in placebo-treated patients.
Treatment
It is recommended that individuals with this affliction sleep on a firm mattress and a flat pillow.