These are the peripheral joints, that is to say, those members who motivate more consultations. They are lined with a membrane which, when irritated, can swell and secrete synovial fluid said. However, all joints can be affected, including those of the spine and chest wall. The patient may present with a single affected joint, also known as monoarthritis. Some locations are typical of a diagnosis: the achievement of the big toe is a specific example of the drop. When multiple joints are affected simultaneously, we speak either oligoarthritis (four or fewer joints) or arthritis (over 4). The involvement may be either symmetric, as the small joints of the fingers in rheumatoid arthritis, or asymmetrical (one side of a knee, an ankle of the other) as in the arthritis associated with psoriasis..

The definition of arthritis So there is a subjective pain and objective evidence, observable by a physician. If pain is the only symptom present, we speak of arthralgia. The painful condition diffuse, formerly known as fibrositis, saw its name changed in fibromyalgia is not observed because of inflammation in this case. The arthritis must also be distinguished from other forms of arthritis resulting from trauma, for example, or wear as osteoarthritis.