Juvenile arthritis or formerly called Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA) is described in children under the age of 16. The word 'rheumatoid' was dropped from the name because it is a misnomer giving people the idea that the disease process is much like the adult Rheumatoid Arthritis. It is not.
Juvenile Arthritis is also called Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, Juvenile Chronic Arthritis, and Childhood Arthritis. It is actually a collection of three different diseases that are arthritic in nature.
Juvenile arthritis affects 1 in 1,000 children in the United States. The hallmarks are pain, stiffness and swelling that last longer than six weeks and are not caused by an injury or another illness. Although the arthritis may initially present itself after an injury or illness these are not the cause.
The cause is actually unknown. There are no genetic factors that can be found, it doesn't run in families and it cannot be passed from one person to another. The how is known - the immune system of the sufferer begins to attack healthy tissue. The why is a mystery.
There is no single symptom or arthritis test to diagnose juvenile arthritis. Physicians will use blood tests and x-rays to rule out other illnesses such as rheumatic fever, and to gauge the extent of the disease as they plan treatment. The most qualified physicians to treat arthritis in children are rheumatologists. These are physicians who have had more years of special education and testing to diagnose and treat diseases that cause inflammation in joints, muscles and other tissues.
The diagnosis of the disease is often made in the first six months following the onset of symptoms. Pauciarticular arthritis is the most common accounting for approximately ½ of the cases diagnosed. In this arthritis the inflammation usually affects four joints or less, affects girls more than boys and is diagnosed under the age of four. Children with Pauciarticular arthritis can also develop inflammation in the eyes (uveitis) which leads to blindness if not treated.
Pauciarticular arthritis responds well to natural remedies such as Omega 3 fatty acids, which may decrease the amount of medication the child needs to maintain a level of comfort. Very few children go on to develop systemic symptoms and in some cases the arthritis resolves in several years.
Polyarticular arthritis accounts for 40% of the children diagnosed with arthritis each year. These children have at least 5 joints affected and the disease will often affect symmetrically. In other words if the left hand is affected the same joints in the right hand will also be painful and swollen.
Polyarticular arthritis is more likely to affect the small bones and joints and when the large bones are affected they grow at different rates affecting the way the child walks. The child will develop a limp and can develop osteoarthritis later in life. Children go to the doctor with complaints of fever, rash and a decreased appetite. The diagnosis is most severe when the child is over 10 and also is positive for rheumatoid factor.
Systemic arthritis affects joints and some of the organs. Children have skin rashes, fever and inflammation of internal organs like the spleen and liver. Some call the disease Still disease after the doctor who first described it.
Systemic arthritis affects boys more than girls and accounts for only 10% of the childhood arthritis diagnosis each year. The children first complain between the ages of 5 and 10 years. The initial symptoms don't usually affect the joints. There are serious complications from the inflammation throughout the body but interestingly this inflammation doesn't affect the eyes.
Treatment of all three types of arthritis center on decreasing pain and inflammation of the joints to improve the comfort of the child and improve the potential for normal growth and development of the bone structures as the child continues to grow.
Treatment can also include exercise programs that do not overly stress the joints and tissues such as swimming and stretching. Exercise will release endorphins that decrease the perception of pain and are an antidote for depression.
Juvenile arthritis is a catch phrase for a group of illnesses that cause inflammation, pain and redness in the joints, soft tissue and some organs of children. An accurate arthritis tests are needed to assign the correct treatments and to plan for the child's future.
Vanessa Youngstrom, a nurse practitioner, enjoys writing and educating on health and wellness topics. You?ll find more articles at http://www.HealthAndWellnessIssues.com
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