The skeletal system provides support and protection for the body, but skeletal diseases can cause pain and disfigurement. Osteoporosis and arthritis are common types, while skeletal deformities can be inherited and cause mobility problems. Osteomyelitis is caused by bacterial infection and requires antibiotics for treatment.
The skeletal system contains bones, cartilage and ligaments that provide support and protection for other systems in the human body. A skeletal disease affects the body’s ability to function and can be defined as any irregularity of the skeletal system that causes pain or disfigurement. Some types of skeletal diseases include osteoporosis, arthritis and diseases related to bacteria. Some are benign while others can be severely debilitating.
Osteoporosis is a very common type of skeletal disease that anyone can suffer from, but it occurs more often among the elderly. It is the reduction in bone density coupled with a loss of bone tissue due to aging and lack of adequate nutrients such as calcium. Symptoms are bone pain and tenderness, loss of height, poor posture, neck pain, and back pain. Osteoporosis can also cause bones to fracture quite easily under relatively low stress. There is a wide variety of osteoporosis treatments, which include different types of diets, medications, and exercise regiments.
Arthritis is a skeletal disease that exists in many different forms and affects the joints of the skeleton. It can cause pain, stiffness and swelling. The most common form is osteoarthritis, which occurs when the cartilage between bones breaks down and causes the bones to rub painfully against each other. Another type of this ailment is rheumatoid arthritis, or an inflammation of the bone joint linings, which can cause severe pain in its worst incarnations. There are many more variations of arthritis and even more ways to relieve symptoms, including home remedies, pain medications, different types of physical therapy, and more.
Skeletal disorders that can have a multitude of variations and causes are skeletal deformities, many of which are rare inherited disorders, usually detectable at birth. A skeletal deformity can be considered any irregularity of the skeletal system. Some of these cause no problems and are difficult to detect, others can be seen visibly, and some can result in loss of function and even death if left untreated.
Common deformities affect the spine, legs and arms and cause mobility problems. Scoliosis, for example, is a curvature of the spine that can be disabling if left untreated. More serious varieties of skeletal diseases can exist in bones such as the ribs or skull, causing severe damage to the lungs, heart, brain and other vital organs if left untreated. Surgical procedures may be required to treat particularly damaging deformities, after which intense physical therapy may be required for recovery.
Another type of skeletal disease known as osteomyelitis is caused by a bacterial infection of the bones rather than a genetic disorder or wear and tear. There are different diseases caused by different types of bacteria, but the resulting symptoms are usually the same, including inflammation and pain in the affected bone. Antibiotics are usually needed for treatment and may need to be given for weeks or months for the disease to go away completely.
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