Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease that usually affects younger people. The affected joints are painful, swollen, stiff, red, and warm to the touch.
Systemic symptoms of the disease are fatigue, malaise, weakness, weight loss, anorexia, fever, anemia, and wasting. Eventually body organs may be affected by the inflammatory process.
Rheumatoid arthritis is more common in women and affects all individuals differently, coming and going throughout a lifetime. Acute attacks of the disease are often related to stress.
By old age, the individual has multiple joint and systemic problems. The cause is unknown, but the disease tends to occur in families.
The treatment program involves medication to treat inflammation, rest, adequate nutrition, physical and occupational therapy, and education. The goals are avoiding and reducing pain, preventing deformities, and maintaining good general health.
Reference :Farrell J : Nursing Care of the Older Person, J.B. Lippincott Company, Philadelphia, 1990.
