Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is a form of arthritis that affects children under the age of 16. There are approximately 500,000 kids in the United States with this disease.
Symptoms
JRA is one kind of autoimmune disease, a disease in which the body erroneously attacks healthy cells. This results in inflammation and pain. Children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis will have pain, swelling and stiffness in his or her joints, as well as problems sleeping and walking.
Webmd.com states that other JRA symptoms include intermittent fever, loss of appetite, weight loss, anemia and a blotchy rash on the arms or legs. A child who limps early in the morning or after a nap could be displaying an early sign of juvenile arthritis. A child with systemic JRA could also have a high fever, salmon colored rash and swollen lymph nodes.
If you suspect JRA, you need to get your child evaluated as soon as possible. This illness can cause inflammatory eye disease, which could lead to blindness. Systemic JRA can also harm organs like the heart, liver and spleen. Fortunately, children are usually able to overcome juvenile arthritis with proper treatment.
Types of JRA
1. Pauciarticular JRA tends to affect the larger joints and usually affects less than five of those types of joints. It is the most common type of juvenile RA and is also the mildest. It tends to affect girls more than boys, with girls under the age 8 being more likely to develop this type of arthritis.
2. Polyarticular arthritis tends to affect more than five joints and is usually symmetrical. Smaller joints, like those of the hands and feet, are usually the ones affected by polyarticular arthritis. This type of juvenile arthritis can also affect the iris (the part of the eye that has color). Polyarticular arthritis tends to affect girls more often than boys. This type of JRA is similar to adult rheumatoid arthritis.
3. Systemic JRA is the least common and most severe type of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. This form of juvenile arthritis is called systemic because it can affect the entire body. Systemic JRA can affect organs like the heart, liver and spleen. It tends to affect boys and girls equally and is characterized by high fevers and a salmon colored rash. Some children who have systemic JRA continue to have severe problems as adults while other manage to outgrow this disease with proper treatment.
Diagnosis and treatment
When juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is suspected, a doctor will run blood and urine tests to check for the disease. The presence of an antibody called rheumatoid factor tells doctors that the child most likely has polyarticular JRA. The presence of this antibody also means that the child is likely to continue to suffer from rheumatoid arthritis as they get older. Not all children with JRA have this antibody, however.
Once your pediatrician has checked your child he will usually have you go to a specialist called a rheumatologist to confirm the diagnosis. A rheumatologist may do more tests like taking x-rays or joint fluid removal. Joint fluid removal means that the doctor takes some fluid out of your child's joint. This is helpful because, not only can it relieve some of the pain, but it also can help tell the doctor what is causing the condition.
According to the Mayo Clinic website, a child who has been a diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis needs to be seen by a doctor on a regular basis in order to monitor the progression of the disease. If the child is under the age of 7, and was diagnosed with polyarticular arthritis, he or she needs to be taken to an eye doctor every three months since this disease can affect the child's eyes.
After your child is diagnosed, she will most likely be given medicines that reduce the swelling and be referred to a physical therapist. The most commonly prescribed medicines are referred to as NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). A physical therapist will teach your child exercises that will help them stay strong and flexible. Exercise is incredibly important because it will help keep the joints from getting stiff or deformed. When in pain, your child probably will not want to do the exercises but they are necessary to avoid complications.
For more information about JRA you can visit webmd.com, mayoclinic.com or ask your pediatrician.