Arthralgia vs. Arthritis — What's the Difference?

Arthralgia (from Greek arthro-, joint + -algos, pain) literally means joint pain. Specifically, arthralgia is a symptom of injury, infection, illness (in particular arthritis), or an allergic reaction to medication.According to MeSH, the term "arthralgia" should only be used when the condition is non-inflammatory, and the term "arthritis" should be used when the condition is inflammatory.

Arthritis is a term often used to mean any disorder that affects joints. Symptoms generally include joint pain and stiffness.

Neuralgic pain in a joint or joints.

Any of several diseases of the joints, such as osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, characterized by pain, swelling, and often stiffness, and usually involving inflammation.

Pain in a joint, especially when not caused by arthritis.

Inflammation of a joint or joints causing pain and/or disability, swelling and stiffness, and due to various causes such as infection, trauma, degenerative changes or metabolic disorders.

Pain in a joint or joints

Any inflammation of the joints, including the gout. A variety of forms of arthritis are recognized, some of which (such as rheumatoid arthritis, also called arthritis deformans and arthritis nodosa) are chronic and progressive, and lead to incapacitation and deformity.

Inflammation of a joint or joints