The Ultimate Guide to Arthritis

9. Other types of arthritis

There are multiple other types of arthritis, including:

• Gout. Gout is a type of inflammatory arthritis that typically flares up for a few weeks and then resolves. Gout often begins in the big toe and occurs when urate crystals build up in the body over time, causing crystal-like formations in and around the joints.
• Juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Juvenile idiopathic arthritis, or JIA, is an autoimmune disease. While children can outgrow JIA, the disease can affect bone growth and development. There are several types of JIA: systemic onset, a rare condition that affects one or more joints and can cause inflammation of the heart, spleen, liver, and lymph nodes; oligoarticular JIA, which affects one to four joints in the first six months and can spread; polyarticular JIA, which affects five or more joints in the first six months and can spread; and enthesitis-related JIA, which occurs when the tissue where the bone meets tendons and ligaments swells.
• Ankylosing spondylitis. This type of arthritis causes inflammation in the joints and ligaments of the spine, though it can also affect peripheral joints. Ankylosing spondylitis can lead to severe, ongoing back pain and loss of flexibility in the spine.
• Psoriatic arthritis. Some people with psoriasis develop psoriatic arthritis, which causes joint pain, swelling, and stiffness and alternates between severe flares and periods of remission. Without treatment, psoriatic arthritis can be debilitating.
• Reactive arthritis. This type of arthritis occurs due to an infection in another part of the body, usually the urinary tract, intestines, or genitals. Reactive arthritis is rare and usually goes away within 12 months.