Rheumatology

Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology is the medical super-specialty that deals with arthritis, diseases of musculoskeletal system and connective tissue disorders or autoimmune disorders. There are at least 100 different types of arthritis and rheumatism. These include diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, reactive arthritis, gout, Viral arthritis which affect mainly the joints and connective tissue disorders like systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, sjogren's syndrome, sarcoidosis, polymyositis, dermatomyositis, systemic vasculitis like wegner's granolomatosis, polyarteritis nodosa, takayasu arteritis which affect multiple organs of the body and metabolic bone diseases like osteomalacia, osteoporosis and chronic musculoskeletal pain disorders like chronic pain syndrome, fibromyalgia.

Patient suffering from joint pains with or without swelling in joints or pain over back or neck, with early morning stiffness should see a rheumatologist. Also if a patient is having any of the symptoms like recurrent fever, rash, photosensitivity, recurrent painful oral ulcers, reddish or bluish discoloration of hands on exposure to cold, severe dryness of mouth or eyes, non-healing ulcers with or without joint pains, then also he/she should consult a rheumatologist. Few of these are chronic and disabling types, if not treated early and properly (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, osteoarthritis). Some diseases can even be life-threatening (e.g. lupus, scleroderma, polymyositis, vasculitis etc.) if not diagnosed or not treated optimally particularly at the time of onset and periodic flares.