Older adults aren't the only ones who suffer from arthritis. It can occur at any age – from two years old and up. More than 300,000 children in the United States have some form of the disease.
Arthritis means "joint inflammation" and refers to a group of diseases that cause pain, swelling, stiffness, and loss of motion in the joints. More than 100 diseases are classed as "arthritis" – even though some rheumatic diseases affect other supporting structures of the body, such as muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones, and internal organs.
Children can be affected by almost all of the forms of arthritis, but the most common form is juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA), with about one in 1,000 children being affected. JRA differs significantly from adult rheumatoid arthritis, leading many health care experts to drop the word "rheumatoid" and refer to chronic childhood arthritis as Juvenile Arthritis (JA).
What Are the Signs?
- Inflammation or stiffness in one or more joint
- The stiffness is typically worse in the morning or just after a child wakes up from a nap
- It typically affects the knees, hands, or feet
- Often children won't complain of pain, so watch for limping and other signs
- Children with JA can develop potentially serious eye problems, or may have growth problems – either too much or not enough growth in the affected joints
- Sometimes there is a skin rash, swollen lymph nodes, or a high fever
- Symptoms last for more than six weeks
- Typically there are remissions and flare-ups
- The symptoms can last for a short while, then disappear completely
- Some children have symptoms that never go away
- There is no other apparent cause, such as injury or illness
As with other autoimmune disease, JA occurs when your child's immune system turns on itself. Antibodies that are supposed to fight off invaders, such as viruses and bacteria, end up attacking your child's joints or body structure. Scientists are not sure why this happens, but it appears that genetics as well as environmental triggers could work together to bring on JA.
Treatment Options
There is no cure, but treatment options are available to help your child lead a healthy active life. They include:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NASIDS), including ibuprofen and aspirin
- Corticosteroids, including cortisone and prednisone
- Anti-rheumatic drugs
- Biologic agents
- Physical therapy
- Exercise, such as swimming and bicycling
- Adequate rest
Make an appointment with your child's healthcare provider if you suspect your child might have JA. Because the duration of symptoms is a key factor to diagnosing JA, make sure to keep a record of the symptoms – when they first appear and when they get worse or better. The doctor will order blood tests and other diagnostics to rule out other causes.
The diagnosis of arthritis could be difficult for your entire family. Work closely with your healthcare team, as well as your child's school. Consider joining a support group. Even though the pain or stiffness can limit physical activity, you can help your child adapt to any necessary lifestyle changes. |
