Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
Information About This Debilitating Disease in Children
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis strikes children of any age. It is often painful and debilitating. Learn some facts about this childhood disease.
Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, also known as Juvenile RA or JRA, is a disease that can afflict young children at any age and stage in life. This disease causes multiple problems including pain in the joints, swelling, loss of motion, and stiffness. JRA is considered an "autoimmune disease," which means that the immune system attacks itself, affecting the body tissue. There is really no cure for JRA, but there are some excellent treatment options. Here is a closer look at this disease, and what you can do as a parent to help your child.
Common Symptoms of Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
You should know the most common symptoms associated with JRA. Most likely, this includes swollen joints that are tender and warm to the touch. In many cases, the pain starts out in the fingers and hands and the knees. Children who have JRA may also run a low-grade fever and experience weight loss. A child may simply complain that he does not feel good or that he feels very tired on a regular basis. It is best to never ignore your child's complaints. A quick trip to the doctor's office can get the ball rolling to find out exactly what is going.
Other symptoms might include:
- Unexplainable rash
- Stiffness in the neck or hips
Getting a Diagnosis for Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
With children it is often difficult to get a proper diagnosis of JRA. However, children with this form of arthritis will have symptoms that simply do not go away with regular doses of Tylenol, and they require further testing to check for JRA specifically. This testing often includes x-rays and blood tests.
Luckily, when a child is diagnosed early and gets prompt and proper treatment, he can live a relatively normal life just like other children. Often times JRA will only last a few years and then go away forever. But, this is not always the case.
Research shows that one in every 1,000 children is affected by some form of JRA (there are three forms). While the severity can vary, it causes pain and discomfort in any case. In fact, it is estimated that one in every 10,000 children experience the more severe form of the disease causing more pain and swelling than with a non-severe form.
The three forms of JRA include:
- Pauciarticular - Affecting four or fewer joints
- Polyarticular - Affecting five or more joints
- Systemic-onset - Affects the entire body
Treating Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
In general, doctors will want to treat the symptoms caused by JRA, in lieu of no treatment at all. This includes anti-inflammatory medication with a fever reducer, which can be either prescription strength or higher doses of over-the-counter formulations, such as ibuprofen. These medications can greatly help to reduce joint inflammation and reduce the low-grade fever that is often caused by the disease. Sometimes a shot of cortisone is necessary for hard-to-treat joint pain. Your doctor will also be able to recommend special exercises that can help reduce the pain and swelling.
If your child has been diagnosed with JRA, make sure you are your child’s advocate. You will need to notify your child's teacher, as often times modifications to your child's routine may be in order (i.e., being able to stand in the classroom when his knees are hurting while sitting behind a desk). A note from the doctor should suffice in most instances.
Note: This article is not meant to be medical advice. It is for informational purposes only. Always consult your child's pediatrician for diagnosis and treatment of this or any childhood disease.
