Juvenile Arthritis
August 24, 2008 · Print This Article
Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints that is characterized by pain, swelling and heat. Nearly 300,000 children in the United States have some sort of arthritis. Arthritis can be short-term - lasting for just a few weeks or months, then going away forever. Or it can be chronic and last for months or years. In rare cases, it can last a lifetime.
The most prevalent form of juvenile arthritis is juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, or JRA. It affects approximately 50,000 children in the United States.
What Causes Juvenile Arthritis?
The medical community hasn’t figured exactly what causes rheumatoid arthritis in children. Research shows it as an autoimmune disease. To effectively manage and minimize the effects of arthritis, an early diagnosis is essential. There are many types of JRA. Understanding their symptoms and characteristics can help you help your child maintain an active, productive lifestyle.
Types of Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
Normally, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis appears between the ages of 6 months and 16 years. The first signs are often joint pain or swelling and reddening or warming of the joints. 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.
There are three major types of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis:
Girls are more affected by Polyarticular arthritis than boys. Symptoms include swelling or pain in five or more joints. The small joints of the hands are affected as well as the weight-bearing joints such as the neck, hips, ankles, feet, and knees. Additionally, a low-grade fever may appear, as well as bumps or nodules on the body on areas subjected to pressure from leaning or sitting.
Pauciarticular JRA affects four or fewer joints. Symptoms include pain, swelling of the joints or stiffness. The knee and wrist joints are commonly affected. An inflammation of the iris might occur with or without active joint symptoms. An ophthalmologist can detect early signs of this inflammation, called iridocyclitis or iritis or uveitis.
Systemic JRA afflicts the whole body. Symptoms include high fevers that often increase in the evenings and then suddenly drop to normal. During the onset, the child may feel very ill, appear pale, or develop a rash. The rash may disappear and then quickly appear again. The spleen and lymph nodes may become enlarged. Sooner or later, many of the body’s joints are affected by swelling, pain, and stiffness.
Signs and Symptoms of Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
The first signs of arthritis can be subtle. Signs may include limping or a sore knee, finger, or wrist. Joints might suddenly swell and remain enlarged. Stiffness in the neck, hips, or other joints can also happen. Rashes may suddenly appear and disappear, developing in one area and another. High fevers tending to spike in the evenings and suddenly disappear are characteristic of systemic juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
Diagnosing Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
Determining if your child has JRA starts with your doctor taking a detailed medical history and conducting a thorough physical examination of the child. Your child’s doctor may take X-rays or perform blood tests to exclude other conditions that can cause symptoms similar to those of JRA. Additionally, some of the tests the doctor may perform while evaluating your child’s symptoms include:
• Culture of the blood
• ANA (antinuclear antibody)
• Bone marrow examination
• A complete blood count
• Bone scan
