Diagnostic criteria of osteoarthritis versus rheumatoid arthritis

Full Answer Section

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

• Symmetrical joint pain: Joint pain that affects both sides of the body, often in the hands, wrists, and knees.
• Morning stiffness: Stiffness that lasts for more than 30 minutes.
• Swelling: Joint swelling and warmth.
• Fatigue: Feeling tired and fatigued.
• Systemic symptoms: May include fever, weight loss, and anemia.
• Positive rheumatoid factor (RF) or anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibodies: Blood tests that are often positive in RA.

2. Types of Headaches and Their Treatment

• Tension headaches: Most common type, characterized by a dull, aching pain in the head or neck. Treatment often involves over-the-counter pain relievers, relaxation techniques, or massage.
• Migraine headaches: Severe, throbbing headaches that are often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound. Treatment may include over-the-counter pain relievers, prescription medications, or lifestyle changes.
• Cluster headaches: Extremely painful, short-lasting headaches that occur in clusters. Treatment may involve oxygen therapy, triptans, or other medications.

3. Types of Seizures and Treatment

• Generalized seizures: Affect the entire brain, including tonic-clonic seizures (grand mal seizures) and absence seizures (petit mal seizures).
• Focal seizures: Affect a specific area of the brain, including simple focal seizures (without loss of consciousness) and complex focal seizures (with loss of consciousness).

Treatment for seizures depends on the type and frequency of seizures. It may include anticonvulsant medications, surgery, or lifestyle changes.

4. Parkinson's Disease: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Causes: The exact cause of Parkinson's disease is unknown, but it is believed to be due to a loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain.

Symptoms:

• Tremor: Shaking of a limb or other body part.
• Rigidity: Stiffness in the muscles.
• Bradykinesia: Slowness of movement.
• Postural instability: Difficulty maintaining balance.

Treatment:

• Medication: Levodopa is the most common medication used to treat Parkinson's disease.
• Surgery: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) may be considered for patients with severe symptoms.
• Physical therapy: Physical therapy can help improve mobility and function.
• Speech therapy: Speech therapy can help address communication difficulties.

Sample Answer

Osteoarthritis (OA)

• Joint pain: Typically localized to joints, often in the hands, knees, hips, or spine.
• Stiffness: Morning stiffness that lasts for less than 30 minutes.
• Tenderness: Joint tenderness to touch.
• Crepitus: A grating or popping sensation in the joint.
• Bone spurs: Formation of bony growths around the joint.
• X-ray evidence: Joint space narrowing and bone spurs on X-ray.