ABSTRACT
This chapter considers rheumatological conditions that are commonly seen in general practice. Rheumatology covers a wide range of clinical conditions. The joints involved in RA (Rheumatoid arthritis) are typically the small joints. There is symmetrical involvement of hands, wrist and feet. Bilateral large joint involvement can also be in conjunction with the aforementioned joints. Patients complain of pain in the hips, knees or hands (distal interphalangeal joints or base of thumb). Pain in these areas is often worse after effort. Symptoms are usually present continuously for greater than 3 months. Patients with a short history of a swollen and painful joint (or joints) with restriction of movement should be regarded as having septic arthritis until proven otherwise. A history of new headache usually in the temporal region, or occasionally in the occipital region, in someone over the age of 55 years, should prompt the consideration of giant cell arteritis.
