If rheumatism is suspected, it can be identified through a series of examinations and assessments:Medical history collection and medical examination• Detailed medical history questions: Doctors ask about the timing of joint symptoms, how they develop, whether they are symmetrical, whether they are accompanied by morning rigidities (hard joints after getting up in the morning, restricted activities, usually lasting more than one hour) and other systemic symptoms, such as heat, inactivity, weight loss, etc. At the same time, family history will also be known, as there may be a genetic tendency for rheumatism. • Comprehensive medical examination: the focus is on the examination of joints, including whether the joints are swollen, constricted, deformed and restricted in scope. In addition to the four limb joints, examinations are carried out for the vertebrae, the larvae, etc., as rheumatitis can sometimes be experienced. Moreover, doctors are also aware of the existence of special signs, such as rheumatism (a subcutaneous knot, most of which is in the joints and under pressure). Laboratory inspection• Blood testing: rheumatism (RF): this is a more commonly used indicator for the diagnosis of rheumatism, but it is not a specific indicator, i.e., other diseases may also lead to increased rheumatism. About 70% – 80% of rheumatism patients are positive, but some are still negative, so they cannot be diagnosed solely with rheumatism. Anti-circle amino acid (ACC) antibodies: their diagnosis of rheumatological arthritis is higher, they may be positive at an early stage of the disease and they are expected to be higher. If CCP is anti-positive and combined with associated joint symptoms, the risk of rheumatism is greater. Blood sunk (ESR) and C reaction protein (CRP): These two indicators mainly reflect the extent of inflammatory response in the body. In the case of rheumatism patients, blood sunk and C-reacting proteins are usually elevated during the activity period and can be used to assist in the assessment of the activity. Blood routines: Anemia, white-cell counting anomalies, etc., are known because the long-term development of rheumatism arthritis may affect blood-making functions, and some therapeutic drugs may also have an impact on blood routines. • Artificial fluid inspection: If the joint is swollen and has saping fluid, a joint piercing to extract joint fluid may be examined. Inflammatory changes in joint fluids for people with rheumatism, such as increased white cell count and higher protein content, help to identify other joint diseases through the analysis of joint fluids. Video screening• X-ray examination: The X-ray performance of early rheumatological arthritis patients may not be significant, but with the development of the condition, typical characteristics such as constriction, bone damage and osteoporosis can emerge. Therefore, X-rays are important for understanding the progress of joint pathologies and are usually used during initial diagnosis and subsequent follow-up visits. • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): MRI is able to show more clearly the pathologies of the joint glitch, cartilage, lactation, etc., especially in the case of early rheumatism, where no significant anomalies have been detected on the X-line, MRI can detect early signs of pathogeneity such as thickening and inflammation, which can facilitate early diagnosis. • Ultrasound: ultrasound operations are simple and relatively cheap, allowing real-time observation of soft tissues, slide membranes, blood vessels, etc. around joints, and detection of membrane growth, joint saps, blood flow signs abnormalities, etc., is also a commonly used diagnostic aid. Comprehensive diagnosisThe doctor conducts a comprehensive analysis based on the patient ‘ s medical history, medical examination, laboratory examination and the results of the visual examination. In general, a patient can be more accurately diagnosed as rheumatism if he/she has typical symptoms of constant symmetrical multiple joint swelling, pain, morning rigidity, co-incidence of rheumatism or CCP anti-positiveness, and a visual examination reveals signs of a related pathology at the joint. However, the diagnostic process needs to be rigorous, as some diseases may have similar manifestations to rheumatism and require careful identification.
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