What is Rheumatoid Arthritis

New Delhi, June 29 Rheumatoid arthritis, commonly known in Hindi as "Gatiya", is a disease of our own dysfunctional immune system. When I say dysfunctional immune system, it means that our own body and immune system which is meant to protect us from other infections and foreign invaders, starts attacking us back.

One percent of India's population has rheumatoid arthritis. Considering the large number of population we have, if we calculate almost 10 lac people are affected by it.

People often have this conception that it is the disease of the elderly and we as a young individual should not be having it. To broadly identify it, we have two types of arthritis. One is the age related one known as Osteoarthritis where there is more of wear and tear of cartilage. Osteoarthritis is a disease of the elderly.

The other arthritis is the inflammatory arthritis, which has fifty different variants with Rheumatoid arthritis being one of them. Rheumatoid arthritis affects most of the people in the younger age group between 20-40 and is more common in the girls. Arthritis in itself can affect the children as young as 6 months of age, known as Juvenile Idiopathic arthritis. So it doesn't really spare any age group.

But it is very important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of the disease. Only then you can approach your Rheumatologist early and help in arresting the disease at an early stage. One of the first signs is pain and stiffness in the hand joints

( With inputs from IANS )