What is Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis?

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Juvenile idiopathic arthritis is the new name for juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). The reason for the name change was to distinguish the different sub-types of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. To mention these quickly, there is Oligoarticular JRA, Polyarticular JRA and Systemic JRA.

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis is the most common type of juvenile arthritis and is thought to affect approximately fifty thousand children in the United States alone. Similar to the adult form of RA, the causes of juvenile idiopathic arthritis are not exactly known, although the most plausible theory is that it is an auto-immune disease that is possibly brought on by the immune system’s inability to identify between health tissues and invading bacteria or viruses. Genetics may also play a part, although it is not a hereditary condition.

Symptoms of Juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis is a chronic disease in which the child’s immune system attacks the tissues which line the inside of the joints, called synovium. These tissues manufacture fluid called synovial fluid in an attempt to protect themselves and the result is stiffness, pain and inflammation of the joints.

Ultimately, if untreated, this inflammation process can spread to the cartilage and bone which can cause permanent damage. This is why it is vital to have this disease diagnosed as soon as symptoms present themselves. Here are the warning signs to look out for:

• Stiffness – especially in the mornings, or after rest.
• Feverishness
• General feeling of lethargy
• Pain in the joints – these will also appear swollen
• Eye problems such as blurred vision, redness or pain in the eyes
• Some children may develop a limp

Early diagnosis provides the best weapon against juvenile idiopathic arthritis, so if your child complains of any of the above symptoms, or you notice one or more of them yourself, see your doctor without delay. The longer the disease goes untreated, the greater the chance of your child’s development being adversely affected. Early treatment can mean your child has a good chance of living a normal lifestyle.

Treatment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Any treatment aims to reduce the pain and swelling while preventing joint damage. As with adult RA, there are various medications that are commonly prescribed. The first of these are NSAIDs, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. While NSAIDs help with pain, they don’t alter the course of the disease itself. They can also cause stomach problems in some children and must be taken with food.

In severe cases of juvenile idiopathic arthritis Corticosteroids may be prescribed, however they can have side effects such as weakened bones which can interfere with a child’s growth pattern, especially when taken orally. For this reason doctors will only prescribe steroids as a last resort, or may recommend injections.  There are other medications for junior idiopathic arthritis and these are the same as the adult rheumatoid arthritis medications.

Exercise and physical therapy are recommended for children with arthritis. Although they may be reluctant at first, exercise is vital for strengthening the muscles that support the joints and will lead to a much better outcome.

The disappearance of all symptoms for a length of time usually means the disease has gone into remission, sometimes permanently. In the case of juvenile idiopathic arthritis, this is the best outcome anyone could wish for.