Photo: MIKE KEMP

Unfortunately, I have had very bad experiences regarding the above day. The first being- my father Prof. Dr. Nawab Ali Ahmad's demise on this day. The other involved my beloved partner, who was suffering from chronic joint pain and was diagnosed with rheumatical disorder after one year of wrong diagnosis and treatment. And today is "that day" -- World Arthritis Day.
In fact, a lot of people mistake "rheumoited arthiritis" with "osteo arthiritis." But there is a gulf of difference between these two disorders. Today, the medical profession uses specific terms to describe rheumatological disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, gout and systemic lupus erythematosus and so on, in medical literature.
Chronic widespread pain is defined as pain that lasts more than 3 months, involving both sides of the body, above and below the waist, and the axial skeleton. In most people, chronic pain arises from soft tissues, including muscles. Syndromes such as fibromyalgia are generally not associated with any consistent abnormalities on blood tests or imaging, respond poorly to treatment, and can lead to chronic ill health and disability.
Rheumatism is a non-specific term used to describe any painful disorder affecting the loco-motor system, including joints, muscles, connective tissues, and soft tissues around the joints and bones. The term rheumatism is also used to describe rheumatic fever affecting heart valves. This years aims are:
-To raise awareness of arthritis in all its forms among the medical community, people with arthritis and the general public;
-To influence public policy by making decision-makers aware of the burden of arthritis and the steps which can be taken to ease it;
-To ensure that all people with arthritis and their caregivers are aware of the vast support network available to them.
However, I came to know about this discipline's modern advancements from Dr. Syed Atiqul Haq, a dedicated professor of rheumatology in this region. When I was sitting with him a few years back, he told me very that "Rheumatologists" were physicians who were experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of arthritis and other diseases of the joints, muscles and bones. The other health professionals who manage these diseases include internists, orthopedic surgeons, immunologists and physiotherapists.
He carried out a remarkable study along with his colleagues to estimate the burden of rheumatic disorders among adults (age 15 yrs) in Bangladeshi rural and urban communities. Where door-to-door interviews were done in three localities -- an affluent urban area (n = 1,259), a poor urban area (n = 1,317) and rural villages 30 km away from the city (n = 2,635).
The door-to-door method resulted in a 99% response rate. The overall point prevalence of musculoskeletal pain was 26.3%, very similar in all three localities but higher in women than in men. Prevalence of fibromyalgia was 4.4, 3.2 and 3.3% in the rural, poor urban and wealthy urban areas, respectively.
Rheumatology is a sub-specialty in internal medicine and pediatrics, devoted to the diagnosis and therapy of conditions and diseases affecting the joints, muscles, and bones. Clinicians who specialise in rheumatology are called rheumatologists. This is a rapidly evolving medical specialty, with advancements owing largely to new scientific discoveries about the immunology of these disorders.
Because the characteristics of some rheumatological disorders are often best explained by immunology, the pathogenesis of many major rheumatological disorders are now described in terms of the autoimmune system. Our specialists along with general practitioners need to be careful about the recent treatments and their side effects.
According to Prof. Atiqul Haq, evidence-based medical treatment of rheumatological disorders has helped many patients with rheumatism lead a near normal life. Future treatment will probably include gene therapy as well.
Rheumatology is a relatively new specialty in this country. Awareness about these conditions both in adult and childhood is lacking and patients are often referred too late, resulting in poor long-term outcomes. We have a few rheumatologists in Bangladesh. It is important that rheumatology should have an important place in the curriculum of medical students in Bangladesh.
Although World Arthritis Day has been celebrated since 1996 on October 12, people with arthritis around the world can join together to make their voices heard beyond this day. You can voice your opinion also!

Dr. Rubaiul Murshed is Professor, Health Care Management.