Juvenile arthritis (JRA) — which causes joint inflammation for at least six weeks in children 16 years old or younger — is the most common type of childhood arthritis. In most cases, symptoms of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis may fade after several months or years.
Other problems may occur but might not be noticeable right away. For instance, inflammation in a knee may cause one leg to grow more slowly than the other. Inflammation can also affect the eyes but your child might not be aware that something is wrong.
Juvenile arthritis (JRA) is a type of arthritis that happens in children age 16 or younger. It causes joint swelling, stiffness and sometimes reduced motion. It can affect any joint, and in some cases it can affect internal organs as well.
One early sign of JRA may be limping in the morning. Symptoms can come and go. Some children have just one or two flare-ups. Others have symptoms that never go away. JRA causes growth problems in some children.
Systemic disease affects many systems of the body. Children may have high fevers, skin rashes, and problems caused by inflammation of the internal organs such as the heart, spleen, liver, and other parts of the digestive tract. It usually, but not always, begins in early childhood. Medical professionals sometimes call this Still’s disease. This type accounts for about 20% of cases of JRA.
For half of the children with pauciarticular juvenile arthritis, only one joint will be involved, usually a knee or ankle. This is called monoarticular juvenile arthritis. These patients usually have a very mild arthritis and the symptoms may go away or become less noticeable (remit).
For some children, this arthritis affects four or fewer larger joints. Joints affected include the knee, ankle, or wrist. Involvement of fingers or toes is unusual.
The treatment of JIA is best undertaken by an experienced team of health professionals, including paediatric rheumatologists, nurse specialists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, chiropractors and psychologists. Many others in the wider health and school communities also have valuable roles to play, such as ophthalmologists, dentists, orthopaedic surgeons, school nurses and teachers, careers advisors and, of course local general practitioners, pediatricians and rheumatologists. It is essential that every effort is made to involve the affected child and their family in disease education and balanced treatment decisions.
Typically, juvenile arthritis appears between the ages of 6 months and 16 years. The first signs often are joint pain or swelling and reddened or warm joints. Many rheumatologists (doctors specializing in joint disorders) find that the greater the number of joints affected, the more severe the disease and the less likely that the symptoms will eventually go into total remission.
Juvenile arthritis is very difficult to diagnose - there is no single test which determines whether a child has juvenile arthritis or not. Doctors and rheumatologists consider the childs medical history, and how long symptoms have been present, in order to rule out other possible conditions. They examine the sore joints and look for other symptoms which might lead to a diagnosis of juvenile arthritis. X-rays and laboratory tests for blood and urine can provide further clues, as can testing the fluid in sore joints.
Spondyloarthropathy: This type of JA most commonly affects boys older than eight years of age. The arthritis occurs in the knees and ankles, moving over time to include the hips and lower spine. Inflammation of the eye may occur occasionally, but usually resolves without permanent damage.
