Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease that attacks the joints in the body, causing inflammation and pain. It can affect anyone at any age. Children are no exception to rheumatoid arthritis. In children, this chronic disease is called as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and it also causes inflamed and stiff joints.

Like rheumatoid arthritis in adults, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is essentially an autoimmune disease. This is a syndrome whereby the body produces antibodies that attack its own joint tissues. Currently, medical researchers have not determined that exact cause of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. However, there are several theories as to how juvenile rheumatoid arthritis can happen.

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis cannot be diagnosed by any single test. A series of tests may be required to diagnose this form of arthritis and only after persistent presence of symptoms for at least 6 weeks, to rule out other possible medical conditions. A pediatric rheumatologist is an expert who specializes in arthritis in children, and may be required to treat children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

There are three major types of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and it usually takes 6 months to determine the type a child suffers from. These three types are:Pauciarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis; Polyarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis; Systemic onset juvenile rheumatoid arthritis

The cause of the disease is unknown, even in the case of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. The child complaining of joint pain is often examined to confirm for rheumatoid arthritis. The symptoms include difficulty to get up after sitting down, pain in the mornings while waking up-everything that is caused by the stiffness and swelling of the joints. They are also asked for a family history of rheumatoid arthritis. Once the disease is suspected, preliminary tests are conducted to understand the intensity of the disease. On the basis of the test results, the child is given treatment and medication. While some have an easy recovery, others suffer from more complicated symptoms. Sometimes, in some children, the symptoms of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis remain dormant for a period of time. It may suddenly emerge or “flare up” when the child least expects it.

Polyarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis affects five joints or more. It affects the girls more than boys, and mainly teenagers. This type normally affects the hands and the finger joints, but can also affect the neck, jaw, hips, knees, and ankles. If affecting the spine, the child may find it difficult to turn the head due to stiffness in the neck.

Systemic onset juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is the least common but affects both boys and girls alike. It is associated with inflammation of the internal organs. Symptoms may include daily fever as high as 103 degree and above, lasting for weeks or months. Inflammation and joint pain may, or may not, accompany the fever initially, but may appear months later.