Juvenile Arthritis

The most common types of arthritis found in children today is called Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA).  While some children may only have to suffer the arthritis pain it is often created by other disease that they get early in childhood.  One of the more popular diseases is Lupus.  Lupus is considered an inflammatory disease that often associates itself with high fever that can have the synovium attack the major organs as well as breakdown the joints.

Juvenile Dermatomyositis is another disease with juvenile arthritis effects such as weak muscle tone and swollen inflamed joints. Psoriatic Arthritis is another juvenile arthritis that can occur in unison with psoriasis.  These can affect boys and girls alike. Scleroderma is another disease that can affect both skin and joints alike. Juvenile arthritis affects more than 70,000 children in the US per year.  This disease however does not just cause joint pain; it can also ravage organs as well.  Symptoms can include occasional stiffness and pain with varying degrees. 

The child may or may not be able to walk from time-to-time.  These flare-ups can leave the child motionless when severe.Being a chronic disease, juvenile arthritis may go into remission at any time and may never return again.  However, the child can have a normal life during periods of flare-ups.  There may be a possibility that your child’s JRA may go away completely.  Each case is different and many factors can creep into the equation such as long-term bone and cartilage damage.

There is no quick fix for juvenile arthritis.  Working in tandem with a physician to help manage the disease and its side effects can greatly improve the overall quality of life for the child.