Arthritis in Childhood
(Juvenile
Arthritis, Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis)
Medical Editor: William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
Arthritis in childhood? Isn't that only an old person's
disease?
Most laypeople
and many doctors fail to appreciate that arthritis in children exists. For the children affected and their families, education about the condition is essential. Many
children suffer for months or years before the diagnosis of arthritis
is thought of and proper treatment begun. But the problem doesn't end
there. Children with arthritis frequently experience difficulty
because their teachers and schoolmates don't understand that children can develop arthritis. They have no idea what to expect from the child with
arthritis or about the nature of the illness. As a result, when the
child is finally diagnosed with arthritis, the family may be told just
to put them in a wheelchair because "nothing can be done." This is
entirely wrong!
How common is arthritis in children?
Arthritis affects approximately one child in every 1,000 in a given
year. Fortunately, most of these cases are mild. However,
approximately one child in every 10,000 will have more severe
arthritis that doesn't just go away. Many children have what is
called an acute inflammatory arthritis following a viral or bacterial infection. This arthritis is often quite severe for a brief period but usually disappears within a few weeks or months. Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) is the most common type of arthritis that persists for months or years at a time. Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is also now called juvenile arthritis or juvenile arthritis of unknown cause (juvenile idiopathic arthritis).
What are the signs, symptoms, and treatment of the different forms of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis?
There are three main forms of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA), which are classified by how they begin. These forms are pauciarticular (less than four joints affected), polyarticular (four or more joints affected), and systemic-onset (inflamed joints with
high fevers and rash).
Next: What are some other forms of arthritis which can affect children? »
- naproxen, Anaprox, Naprelan, Naprosyn, Aleve - Explains the medication naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn, Anaprox, Naprelan) a drug used for the management of mild to moderate pain, fever, and inflammation. Article includes descriptions, uses, drug interactions, and side effects.
- Complete Blood Count (CBC) - A complete blood count (CBC) measures the concentration of white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets in the blood and aids in the diagnosis of conditions and diseases such as anemia, malignancies, and immune disorders.
- Rheumatoid Arthritis - Learn more about rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease that causes chronic joint inflammation, which has symptoms that include stiffness, fever, muscle and joint aches, loss of appetite, and fatigue. Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis incorporates the use of first-line drugs (aspirin and corticosteroids for pain and inflammation) and second-line drugs (methotrexate and hydroxychloroquine to prevent joint destruction and promote remission).
Latest Medical News
Arthritis RSS