Which of the following is a manifestation of osteoarthritis?

• A. Immediate joint swelling with warmth.
• B. Pain exacerbated by weight bearing.
• C. Fever and malaise.
• D. Weight loss.

Answer: (B)

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative, noninflammatory joint disorder where pain comes from mechanical wear and tear. Moving the joint, especially under load, increases the stress on already-damaged surfaces, so the pain worsens with weight bearing. That’s why the option describing pain that gets worse with activity or standing and walking is the best match. Inflammatory arthritis, by contrast, typically causes joint swelling with warmth and may bring systemic symptoms like fever and malaise. OA also often shows stiffness after rest that improves with movement, but it lacks the acute inflammatory signs you’d see with an infection or inflammatory disease.