title: Joint pain of recent onset.
abstract: A joint pain of recent onset is a common and often challenging problem to the family physician. The many etiologies of acute arthritis require a systematic approach to a careful definition of the problem which is essential to safe and effective therapy. The proper evaluation of joint pain of recent onset requires a detailed history and physical examination as well as a rationally selected battery of laboratory studies. This paper provides the busy physician with a specific approach to the diagnosis of acute joint pain as the basis for precise management.
mesh_terms: D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis; D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000175:diagnosis; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006073:Gout / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000032:analysis; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis