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Juvenile idiopathic arthritis is also known as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis or juvenile chronic arthritis.
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis may not cause too many problems in the majority of children, however some children may be affected more severely resulting in long term joint damage. All children are affected differently, but more commonly a child with JIA will have swollen, painful joints (lasting more than six weeks), which may be stiff and difficult to move. The inflammation of the joints may result in damage to the bone and cartilage, with possible changes in bone growth where the affected bones may become longer, shorter or bigger.
Research has not yet discovered what causes JIA - it appears that for some reason the immune system (which normally defends the body against foreign things like germs) becomes confused, and releases chemicals which cause inflammation. JIA is not contagious. Heredity may be a factor, but on its own does not seem to cause JIA. The factors that trigger the disease are unknown. There are three main types of juvenile idiopathic arthritis
A doctor may diagnose oligoarthritis, or pauciarticular arthritis, if four or fewer joints are affected, and it is most frequently seen in children aged about two or three years, but also in adolescents. It is more common in the larger joints, like the knees, ankles or elbows, but can also affect wrists, fingers and toes. Often a particular joint will be affected on one side of the body only. If a child has this form of JIA they are at risk of an eye inflammation called iridocyclitis, particularly if blood tests are positive for ANA. Iridocyclitis should be monitored regularly by an appropriate eye specialist, as there are no signs of redness or discomfit even when it is present. Untreated it can cause considerable damage, however most children do well when treated with eye drops.
A child with this form of JIA often does well, and in most cases the arthritis disappears after a number of years. A range of treatments are aimed at minimising damage in the affected joints, and good management will often give a good long term outlook for the childs future.
Polyarticular means “many joints”. Five or more joints are affected, often in the small joints of the fingers and hands, and often those joints are affected on both sides of the body. Polyarticular JIA can also affect knees, hips, ankles, feet, shoulders, neck and jaw, and they may experience at times a low-grade fever and tiredness. A small number of children have positive rheumatoid factor in the blood, which may result in a more severe form of arthritis. Many children will recover from the polyarticular arthritis without significant ongoing effects. For some the disease will continue into adulthood, but good management can go along way towards minimising the impact of arthritis on education and career choices.
This form of arthritis is the least common form of JIA. As well as sore joints the child usually has fever and rash, aching limbs, and feels tired and listless. This condition may also affect the heart, lungs, liver, spleen, and lymph nodes, and anaemia and weight loss may occur. The joint-related symptoms may continue after the other symptoms have settled down. Many children with systemic JIA recover after months or possibly a year (depending on relapses), with minimal changes in joints. For others the condition will be more prolonged and recurrent, with ongoing joint problems. Good management of the fever and joint inflammation will often enable a fairly normal life to be led and minimise problems into adulthood.
(or JIA)
Oligoarthritis
Polyarticular Arthritis
Systemic Arthritis
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