Rheumatoid Arthritis vs. Rheumatic Fever
Disease description:
My father-in-law has recently been feeling a persistent soreness and pain in his legs and feet. I took him to the hospital for an examination, and the doctor mentioned it might be a symptom of rheumatoid arthritis. I would like to ask the doctor, what are the differences between rheumatoid arthritis and rheumatic arthritis?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Yang Tiesheng
The main differences between rheumatism and rheumatoid arthritis are reflected in the following aspects:
1. **Type of disease**: Rheumatism refers to inflammation of the connective tissues, which can be either acute or chronic, while rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease affecting the immune system.
2. **Causes**: Rheumatism is usually caused by streptococcal infection, whereas the exact cause of rheumatoid arthritis is often unclear and may be related to immune system abnormalities.
3. **Symptoms**: Rheumatism mainly manifests as joint pain associated with environmental and weather changes; rheumatoid arthritis commonly presents with joint swelling, pain, and even deformity, and may also affect other organs in the body.
4. **Age and gender prevalence**: Rheumatism frequently occurs between the ages of 5–17 years, with an equal male-to-female ratio; rheumatoid arthritis commonly affects individuals aged 35–50 years, with a higher incidence rate in females than males.
