A joint, the place where two bones come together, can feel painful as a result of an injury. Conditions and diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, can cause chronic joint pain. Infections, including bacterial and viral, can also cause joint pain. Some infectious agents directly infect the joint, causing inflammation and a build-up of fluid that results in joint pain. Other infections trigger the immune system to produce a general inflammatory response which can result in joint pain.
Lyme Disease
Lyme disease, a multisystem inflammatory disease, describes an infection caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi transmitted to humans through a tick bite. Lyme disease remains the most common arthropod-borne infectious disease causing 150,000 cases in the United States between 1982 and 2010, according to the American Lyme Disease Foundation. When an infected tick bites a human the bacteria enter the bloodstream and initially produce a circular rash known as erythema migrans. As the bacteria travels through the body it can affect other areas including the joints and nervous system.
When diagnosed in the early stages, treatment provides a cure. If left untreated, the infection can cause severe headaches, neck stiffness, shooting pains, heart palpitations and dizziness. Within several months approximately 60 percent of infected patients will experience arthritis-like symptoms including joint pain and stiffness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Rheumatic Fever
Rheumatic fever, classified as an inflammatory disease, develops as a complication of strep throat. An infection with a strain of Group A Streptococcus bacteria causes strep throat, resulting in sore throat, difficulty swallowing, fever, headache, rash. If left untreated, the immune system tries to rid the body of the bacteria. Because the bacteria contain a protein similar to another protein found on some healthy tissues, the immune system fails to differentiate between the bacteria and the healthy tissue resulting in damage to the healthy tissues.
Rheumatic fever affects the tissues of the heart, joints, skin and central nervous system causing inflammation. General symptoms include fever, chest pain, fatigue and shortness of breath. The inflammation in the joints causes migrating joint pain, swollen joints and joints that look red or feel hot. Rheumatic fever usually occurs in children ages five to 15, according to MayoClinic.com, and can cause recurring episodes.
Rubella
Rubella, also known as the German measles, occurs as a result of a viral infection. The rubella virus is very contagious and transmits from person to person through direct contact with respiratory secretions such as mucus. Rubella usually causes mild symptoms, especially in children, including a rash, mild fever, headache and a stuffy nose. The viral infection also triggers an inflammatory response causing swollen lymph nodes and swelling of the joints that leads to aching and painful joints.
