Final answer:
All types of arthritis have joint inflammation in common, causing pain, swelling, and reduced mobility. While osteoarthritis stems from cartilage wear, rheumatoid arthritis is autoimmune, and gout is due to uric acid crystals.
Step-by-step explanation:
What all types of arthritis have in common is the inflammation of the joint, which leads to symptoms such as joint pain, swelling, stiffness, and reduced joint mobility. While conditions like osteoarthritis can arise from aging and cartilage 'wear and tear', other forms like rheumatoid arthritis are autoimmune diseases, and gout involves the deposition of uric acid crystals within a joint. Infections can cause certain forms of arthritis, but this is not common to all types. Osteoarthritis, the most common type, involves the breakdown of articular cartilage leading to joint pain and stiffness, and does not have a cure but can be managed with lifestyle changes, medications, and possibly surgery. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks joint tissues, whereas gout is specifically caused by uric acid crystal deposits.