Rheumatology is a specialty focusing on arthritis and related conditions. It is a branch of internal medicine that mainly deals with autoimmune diseases. Autoimmune system disorders can lead to the body attacking itself, affecting joints, skin, and even causing systemic inflammation, which can involve internal organs. Rheumatology primarily addresses these types of diseases.
Rheumatology encompasses many autoimmune diseases, most of which affect young and middle-aged people. For example, rheumatoid arthritis typically has an onset between 30-50 years old; lupus erythematosus usually occurs between 20-40 years old; and ankylosing spondylitis often begins between 17-40 years old. Some rheumatic conditions can involve older adults, such as osteoarthritis and polymyalgia rheumatica, but these represent only a small part of rheumatologic diseases. Therefore, rheumatic diseases are not exclusively age-related illnesses.
Many rheumatic conditions involve arthritis. In fact, high humidity and changes in air pressure can exacerbate joint pain regardless of the cause of arthritis. The Traditional Chinese term Feng Shi commonly describes the elderly suffering from more severe joint pain. Somehow this aligns with the concept of rheumatic conditions, as indeed patient with underlying arthritis commonly experience more pain during humid weather or rainy days; but in rheumatology, these conditions involve younger patients more frequently.
Currently, there is no complete cure for autoimmune diseases in medicine. However, this does not mean they cannot be treated. Many autoimmune conditions now have effective treatment options. The development of biologic agents has significantly improved disease control and quality of life for many patients, with outcomes comparable to those of healthy individuals.
Genetics can be one trigger for rheumatic diseases. Having a family history of rheumatic-related illnesses increases the likelihood of other family members developing such conditions.
Yes, children can also develop rheumatic diseases, not just the elderly. Childhood rheumatic disease, also known as Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA), is a chronic autoimmune disorder that occurs in children and adolescents. On average, about 1 in 1,000 children is affected by some form of childhood rheumatic disease.