1. What is arthritis?
Arthritis is a general term for conditions that affect the joints or tissues around the joint. There are more than 100 types of arthritis.
Most types of arthritis cause pain and stiffness in and around the affected joint or joints. Some types of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis, also affect the immune system and some internal organs of the body.
Learn more about common forms of arthritis in the Arthritis Typessection.
Experts use different definitions to gather information about arthritis in the population. Learn more on the Arthritis Case Definitions page.
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2. What are the most common types of arthritis?
The most common form of arthritis in the United States is osteoarthritis. Other common types of arthritisinclude rheumatoid arthritis,gout, andfibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is included in arthritis for public health purposes.
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3. What are the symptoms of arthritis?
Different types of arthritis have different symptoms. Pain and stiffness in and around one or more joints are common symptoms for most types of arthritis. Depending on the type of arthritis, symptoms can develop suddenly or gradually over time. Symptoms may come and go, or persist over time.
For information about the symptoms of specific types of arthritis, visit our Arthritis Typessection.
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4. What causes arthritis?
Experts don’t know the causes of many forms of arthritis. However, we do know that gout is caused by too much uric acid in the body. Sometimes specific infections can also cause arthritis.
Scientists are studying the role of factors such as genetics, lifestyle, and environment in different types of arthritis to learn more possible causes and risk factors.
For information about known arthritis risk factors, visit the Risk Factors page.
5. Am I at risk for arthritis?
Certain factors make it more likely that you will develop arthritis. You can control some risk factors, and others you cannot. By changing the risk factors you can control, you can decrease your risk of getting arthritis or making arthritis worse.
Learn more about arthritisrisk factors.
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6. Are people with arthritis more likely to develop complications from the flu?
If you have a form of inflammatory arthritis, like rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, you may be more likely to develop complications from the flu than most people.
Flu-related complications may include:
- Sinus infections
- Ear infections
- Bronchitis
- Pneumonia
People with inflammatory arthritis are more vulnerable to flu-related complications because they have weakened immune systems. These forms of arthritis and some of the medications used to treat them can both weaken the immune system.
Learn about flu complications and warning signs to look for on the Flu Symptoms and Complications webpageof the CDC Flu website.
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7. How many adults in the United States have arthritis?
An estimated 53.2 million US adults have arthritis. Experts believe that number will grow as our nation’s population gets older.
Learn more about arthritis prevalence on the Arthritis-Related Statistics page.
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8. Can children get arthritis?
Yes, about 220,000 US children have arthritis.
Signs and symptoms of childhood arthritis may include:
- Joint pain
- Swelling
- Fever
- Stiffness
- Rash
- Fatigue (tiredness)
- Loss of appetite
- Inflammation of the eye
- Difficulty with daily living activities such as walking, dressing, and playing.
Childhood arthritis can cause permanent damage to the affected joint or joints. Early diagnosis and proper treatment are important to prevent or minimize permanent damage. There is no cure for childhood arthritis, but some children with childhood arthritis achieve long term or permanent remission, which means the disease is no longer active.
Learn more about childhood arthritis.
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9. Can I prevent arthritis?
You can reduce your risk of getting some types of arthritis by changing risk factors you can control. Risk factors you can control include overweight and obesity, joint injuries, and smoking.
Learn more about arthritis risk factors.
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