Rheumatoid disease and any autoimmune diseases can occur in any age groups. There are some autoimmune diseases which occur more frequently in younger individuals and some occur in elderly population. Rheumatoid arthritis can affect children, teenagers, middle age adults, elderly population can be affected with this arthritis. So age doesn’t have any sparing on the occurrence of this condition. But there are some predispositions like elderly will be affected more in some arthritis which are more prevalent in this population. Likewise in the younger population there are some arthritis which are common in this group. Otherwise there is no specific age predisposition for the occurrence of rheumatic disease in general. This is one of the commonest myth that the population has that arthritis is seen only in elderly population. We should create awareness and educate the population that arthritis can affect any age group and more importantly the economically productive age group are affected in this arthritis. If children are affected it is more important that we treat them early because in growing age group the bones and joints tend to get deformed when one is affected with rheumatic disease in this age group. Then we can prevent any damage which can occur in the future life.
