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Psoriasis Differential Diagnosis
Everything Think About Arthritis..
One in three adult Americans suffer from some form of arthritis and the disease affects about twice as many women as men.
Arthritic diseases include rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis, which are autoimmune diseases; septic arthritis, caused by joint infection; and the more common osteoarthritis, or degenerative joint disease. Arthritis can be caused from strains and injuries caused by repetitive motion, sports, overexertion, and falls. Unlike the autoimmune diseases, osteoarthritis largely affects older people and results from the degeneration of joint cartilage. Other forms are discussed below.
Arthritic joints can be sensitive to weather changes. The increased sensitivity is thought to be caused by the affected joints developing extra nerve endings in an attempt to protect the joint from further damage.
Signs and symptoms
All arthritides feature pain, which is generally worse in the morning and on initiating movement, and resolves in the course of time. In elderly people and children, the pain may not be the main feature, and the patient simply moves less (elderly) or refuses to use the affected limb (children).
When faced with joint pain, a doctor will generally ask about several other medical symptoms (such as fever, skin symptoms, breathlessness, Raynaud's phenomenon) that may narrow down the differential diagnosis to a few items, for which testing can be done.
Arthritis and fever together are pointers towards septic arthritis (see below). This is a medical emergency, and requires urgent referral to a rheumatologist.
Diagnosis
The various types of arthritis can be distinguished by the pace of onset, the age and sex of the patient, the amount of (and which) joints affected, additional symptoms (such as psoriasis, iridocyclitis, Raynaud's phenomenon, and rheumatoid nodules), and other clues.
Blood tests and X-rays of the affected joints are often performed to make the diagnosis. X-rays can show erosions or bone appositions.
Screening blood tests: full blood count, electrolytes, renal function, liver enzymes, calcium, phosphate, protein electrophoresis, C-reactive protein and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). Specific tests are the rheumatoid factor, antinuclear factor (ANF), extractable nuclear antigen and specific antibodies whenever the ANF is found to be positive.
Treatment
Treatment options vary depending on the precise condition, but include surgery, and drug treatment, reduction of joint stress, physical and occupational therapy, and pain management. There are also numerous herbal remedies that purportedly treat arthritis, including Harpagophytum procumbens. For specifics, see the articles on the individual conditions listed below.
In March 2005, researchers at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital in the USA found that a diet rich in oily fish raised the body's production of an anti-inflammatory fat, and may thus reduce the effects of arthritis. According to their study published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, this diet worked best when combined with low aspirin doses.
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Pityriasis Rubra Pilaris Causes Symptoms Information With Treatment
Pityriasis rubra pilaris is a rare and chronic skin disorder that often has a sudden onset. Symptoms include reddish orange discolouration scaling, and severe flaking of the skin. Dr. W.A.D. Griffiths has classified six forms of PRP. At this time, the cause of PRP is unknown, and a cure is also unknown. The disease affects persons of all ages, races, and nationalities. Both are affected equally. Many Support Group members report a varied clinical progression of the disease. Pityriasis rubra pilaris is a skin disorder that causes constant inflammation and scaling of the skin. It is generally accompanied by elevated erythematous spots (papules) on the skin. The papules are the most important diagnostic feature, being more or less acuminate, reddish brown, about pinhead size, and topped by a central horny plug. Pityriasis rubra pilaris most often starts as a patchy rash on the scalp, face or chest. Over a period as short a several weeks it extends downward, and often covers much of the body. It spares areas of old scars and injuries, and leaves small islands of entirely unaffected skin. The rash has an orange-red color and the palms and soles become thickened. Rough, dry plugs can be felt within the rash. The itching is usually severe at first, and then later is not as bad as you would think considering how bad the rash looks. The best treatment is Accutane or Soriatane pills. These are closely related "retinoid" medications. While these have many minor side effects, they do not usually cause any serious harm to the body. A more potent and more effective treatment is methotrexate tablets, but as these can have dangerous side effects they are saved for people who don't improve with the retinoids.
Pityriasis rubra pilaris is the name given to a group of rare skin disorders that present with reddish-orange coloured scaling patches with well defined borders. The disease may affect entire body or just restrict to some parts such as the elbows and knees, palms and soles. The Disease generally produces elevated spots on the skin. These spots grow and become connected, producing red plaques over large areas containing dry plugged pores. It is found to be having association with abnormal metabolism of vitamin A. It could take as long as one to three years for an individual to fully recover from this skin disorder. It may occur in any race, and both male and female are equally affected. -The cause of pityriasis rubra pilaris is unknown. The 2 most common forms of the disease are juvenile classic, characterized by autosomal dominant inheritance and childhood onset, and adult classic, characterized by no apparent inheritance and adult onset. Atypical forms exist in both age groups. Sunlight can trigger a flare. Diagnosis is by clinical appearance and may be supported by biopsy. Differential diagnosis includes seborrheic dermatitis (in children) and psoriasis when disease occurs on the scalp, elbows, and knees.
Causes of Pityriasis Rubra Pilaris
Find common causes and risk factors of Pityriasis Rubra Pilaris :
Pityriasis Rubra Pilaris is generally sporadic, but in some forms it may be partially inherited.
Fungal infection may also be a cause of the disease.
Signs and Symptoms of Pityriasis Rubra Pilaris
Sign and symptoms may include the following :
Seborrhea of the scalp.
Pink swellings.
Lesions of the face.
Scaling lesions.
Itchy.
Rashes.
Treatment for Pityriasis Rubra Pilaris
Treatment may include :
Steroid creams and ointments may also be used to remove the rashes.
Methotrexate a strong drug used for suppressing the immune system may be used as a treatment for pityriasis rubra pilaris, but it too has many side effects.
Topical medications such as emollients may be used to get relive from dryness and cracking.
Treated with a derivative of vitamin A known as acitretin also useful in Pityriasis rubra pilaris but the treatment has some severe side effects.
Accutane or Soriatane pills are the best treatment .
About the Author
Juliet Cohen writes articles on diseases and conditions and skin disorders. She also writes articles on herbal home remedies.
