The suffix “-itis” usually means what?

The suffix “-itis” means inflammation. It is commonly used in medical terms to describe inflammation of a specific organ or tissue. For example, arthritis means inflammation of the joints, hepatitis is inflammation of the liver, and dermatitis refers to inflammation of the skin. Inflammation is the body’s natural response to infection, injury, or irritants and typically involves redness, swelling, heat, and pain. The suffix helps identify the affected area and often indicates an underlying infection or autoimmune reaction that needs medical attention and anti-inflammatory treatment.