artralgie

Artralgie, or arthralgia, is the medical term for pain in one or more joints. It is a symptom rather than a diagnosis and can occur with or without visible joint inflammation. Arthralgia may be acute, lasting hours to days, or chronic, persisting for weeks or months. It can affect a single joint or multiple joints and may be localized or diffuse.

Common causes fall into several broad categories. Mechanical or overuse injuries, such as sprains or repetitive strain, are frequent. Degenerative joint disease (osteoarthritis) is a common non-inflammatory cause in adults. Inflammatory arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and other spondyloarthropathies, can produce persistent joint pain with stiffness. Crystal arthropathies (gout, pseudogout) cause sudden, severe pain often in a specific joint. Infections (septic arthritis) and certain systemic diseases (l lupus, vasculitis) can also present with arthralgia. Medications and pregnancy-related factors may contribute as well.

Symptoms vary and may include joint pain, stiffness, swelling, warmth, or redness. Inflammatory pain often improves with movement late in the day or morning stiffness lasts more than 30 minutes; mechanical pain tends to worsen with activity and improve with rest. Red flags prompting urgent evaluation include fever with joint swelling, inability to bear weight, a hot joint, rapid progression, or immunosuppression.

Evaluation involves a careful history and physical examination, laboratory tests (inflammatory markers, autoimmune antibodies, uric acid), and imaging as needed. Joint aspiration may be performed to assess infection or crystals. Treatment targets the underlying cause and may include analgesia (acetaminophen, NSAIDs), topical agents, physical therapy, weight management, and disease-specific therapies for inflammatory or crystal arthropathies. Prognosis varies with the underlying condition.