Juvenile Arthritis

Written by John Sinatra

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is a disease that causes inflammation and swelling of the joints making them stiff and painful.  Though doctors do not know what causes juvenile rheumatoid arthritis for sure, it can be caused by an overactive immune system that mistakenly views healthy joint tissue as a foreign invader and attacks it.  Some children also may be exposed to viruses that might cause the immune system to attack the joints of the body.  Some doctors are studying genes to see what role they play in determining who gets juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. There are three different types of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.  40-60% of children that suffer from juvenile rheumatoid arthritis have pauciarticular, the most common and mildest form of the disease.  Children who suffer with this will generally have joint pain in one to four joints such as the fingers, hands, toes, wrists, ankles, elbows and hips.  These children have a 40-50% chance of the disease carrying over into adulthood.  25-35% of children with juvenile arthritis will have the polyarticular type of the disease which is more severe and affects more joints.  This form of juvenile arthritis will get worse over time and often begins in the knees or hips.  Of the children with this form of  juvenile rheumatoid arthritis there is a 50-70% chance of the disease progressing into adulthood.  The third form of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is the systemic type, which affects 10-20% of children with the disease.  This is the most serious form of the disease and it may spread into the organs as well.  For those who suffer from this type of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis there is a 50-70% chance that it will carry on into adulthood.  Fortunately many children that have rheumatoid arthritis will outgrow it after they receive treatment, but some will continue to require care and treatment for rheumatoid arthritis well into adulthood. Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by stiff, swollen and painful joints.  Many children that suffer from the disease often have trouble sleeping and may awaken many times throughout the night.  Because of this it is very important for children that have juvenile rheumatoid arthritis to get plenty of rest during the day to allow their joints time to relax and not become too inflamed.  Children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis may also have a hard time walking.  In younger children the symptoms of this disease may be harder to spot.  Children may be more cranky and fussy.  Some may even revert back to crawling after they have already learned how to walk.  This is caused by the joint pain and parents that notice these symptoms in their children should contact their family doctor to express any concerns.  An early diagnosis of the disease is imperative to the children’s future health as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis may also cause inflammatory eye disease which can lead to blindness.  There are no warning signs of the eye inflammation but early treatment can prevent vision loss from occurring.  Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis can also lead to cataracts, glaucoma, and corneal degeneration. Many children receive therapy for rheumatoid arthritis as well as rheumatoid arthritis medications to reduce pain and swelling.  The level of severity and intensity of the disease will determine what types of treatments a child will receive.  Some children that have juvenile rheumatoid arthritis experience growth abnormalities such as uneven leg growth or an imbalanced jaw.  In very rare cases surgery will be done to correct joint damage.  Exercise and movement are very important to prevent joints from becoming too stiff.  Special exercises may be given to help the child experience a full range of motion with the affected joint.  Assistive devices, such as door knob extenders, may also be helpful in allowing a child with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis to function and complete simple tasks with less pain and discomfort.

 

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