Juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Overview

The most prevalent kind of arthritis in children under the age of 16 is juvenile idiopathic arthritis, formerly known as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. The symptoms of juvenile idiopathic arthritis might include pain, swelling, and joint stiffness. While some kids may only have symptoms for a few months, others may have them for many years.

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis in some cases can lead to major side complications, which include growth issues, joint damage, and eye inflammation. Controlling pain and inflammation, enhancing function, and avoiding joint damage are the main goals of treatment.

Symptoms

These are the signs and symptoms manifested by patients who have juvenile idiopathic arthritis:

• Pain. Despite the fact that your child may not express any complaints of joint pain, you may still observe that he or she limps, especially in the morning or just after a nap.
• Swelling. Though normal, swelling in joints frequently shows up in larger joints first, such as the knee.
• Stiffness. Your child may seem clumsier than normal, especially in the morning or right after naps.
• Fever
• Rash
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Eye redness, eye pain, and vision problems
• Fatigue
• Weight loss

One joint may be affected by juvenile idiopathic arthritis, or several other joints. Juvenile idiopathic arthritis has several different subtypes, but the three most common ones are systemic, oligoarticular, and polyarticular. The type your child has is determined by the symptoms, the number of affected joints, and whether or not a fever and rashes are noticeable based on their characteristics.

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis has periods when symptoms worsen and periods when they may not even be present, similar to other types of arthritis.

If your child has joint pain, swelling, or stiffness for longer than a week, especially if they also have a fever, consult a doctor.

Causes

When the body’s immune system targets its own cells and tissues, juvenile idiopathic arthritis develops. Although the exact cause is unknown, both environment and heredity appear to be involved.

Risk factors

Some types of juvenile idiopathic arthritis affect girls more frequently than boys.