Posted: September 7th, 2017

Post a description of the pathophysiology of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, including the similarities and differences between the disorders

Arthritis While arthritis impacts nearly 50 million adults in the United States, it is not a disease that is limited to adulthood. Consider the case of Ashley Russell. At the age of 14 months, Ashley was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. As a baby, her parents noticed that her knee was always swollen and that she often wanted to be carried instead of walking on her own (Cyr, 2012). After seeking medical care, Ashley’s underlying disorder was discovered. Arthritis in children is not uncommon. According to the CDC (2011), an estimated 294,000 children under age 18 have some form of arthritis or rheumatic condition. Due to the prevalence of the disorder in both children and adults, you must understand the pathophysiology and symptoms of arthritis in order to properly diagnose and prescribe treatment. To prepare: · Review Chapter 37 in the Huether and McCance text and Chapter 24 in the McPhee and Hammer text. Identify the pathophysiology of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Consider the similarities and differences of the disorders. · Select two of the following patient factors: genetics, gender, ethnicity, age, or behavior. Reflect on how the factors you selected might impact the pathophysiology of the disorders, as well as the diagnosis of and treatment for the disorders. By Day 4 Post a description of the pathophysiology of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, including the similarities and differences between the disorders. Then explain how the factors you selected might impact the pathophysiology of the disorders, as well as the diagnosis of treatment for the disorders. Read a selection of your colleagues’ responses. By Day 6 Respond to at least two of your colleagues on two different days who selected different factors than you, in one or more of the following ways: · Offer alternative diagnoses and prescription of treatment options for osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. · Share an insight from having read your colleague’s posting, synthesizing the information to provide new perspectives. References: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2011). Arthritis-related statistics. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/data_statistics/arthritis_related_stats.htm Cyr, J. (2012). 7-year-old from Aroostook County chosen as youth ambassador for Bangor Arthritis Walk. Bangor Daily News. Retrieved from http://bangordailynews.com/2012/05/10/health/7-year-old-from-aroostook-county-chosen-as-youth-ambassador-for-bangor-arthritis-walk/