Inflammation

Inflammation is the body's natural immune response to injury, infection, or irritation, characterized by redness, warmth, swelling, pain, and sometimes loss of function in the affected area. Acute inflammation typically develops rapidly and resolves within days to weeks once the triggering cause is removed, such as inflammation from a sprained ankle, surgical incision, or short-term infection. Chronic inflammation persists for months or years and can result from ongoing conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis), psoriasis, or autoimmune disorders where the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. Systemic inflammation affects the entire body rather than a localized area and can be triggered by severe trauma, major surgery, burns, pancreatitis, or systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). Common symptoms of significant inflammation include fever, fatigue, body aches, loss of appetite, and elevated inflammatory markers in blood tests such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). Diagnosis involves clinical evaluation, blood tests to measure inflammatory markers and immune function, and sometimes imaging studies or biopsies to identify the underlying cause. Treatment depends on the source and severity of inflammation and may include anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs or corticosteroids), disease-modifying drugs for autoimmune conditions, antibiotics if infection is present, and lifestyle modifications to reduce chronic inflammation such as diet changes, exercise, stress management, and smoking cessation.