Contributor: Gordon K. Klintworth
Inflammation of the joints can occur in many settings. In many infections, including rubella, mumps, infectious mononucleosis, variola, influenza, and pneumonia caused by parainfluenza virus and respiratory syncytial virus, transient arthritis is common and any infectious disease can potentially cause an infectious arthritis [arthritis - infectious], but certain infections, such as Lyme disease are particularly prone to arthritis. Individuals with damaged joints or a deficient immune system are particularly likely to get an infectious arthritis. Some infections, such gram-negative enteric infections predispose individuals to chronic arthritis by immune mechanisms. Chlamydial urethritis [chlamydial infection] can lead to arthritis and the other manifestations of Reiter syndrome. Common important type of arthritis is rheumatoid arthritis and hyperuremic arthropathy [gout]. Arthritis can occur in Behçet disease, sarcoidosis, relapsing polychondritis, rheumatic fever and autoimmune diseases. Arthritis is a manifestation of some inherited syndromes, such as arthropathy-camptodactyly syndrome and Blau syndrome.