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Juvenile arthritis affects as many as four in every one thousand Australian kids and teenagers. Many families are unaware that their child has the condition.
Manners PJ, Diepeveen DA. Prevalence of juvenile chronic arthritis in a population of 12-year-old children in urban Australia.
Arthritis refers to inflammation of joints, which means a joint or joints may be swollen, stiff and painful. Arthritis is usually persistant, lasting for months or years. There are over a hundred different types of arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions, not all of which technically fall into the above description but have similar symptoms and are managed in a similar way.
Juvenile arthritis can occur at any age - as teenagers, as children, even as babies. It can start very gradually with just a few mild symptoms or it can start with a severe attack. For some children juvenile arthritis is fairly mild and doesn't impact on their life too significantly, while for others it can be a very disabling condition with considerable pain and limitations in mobility and everyday activities. At this time there is still no cure for juvenile arthritis. Some children will continue to have arthritis throughout their adult years, while for others the symptoms of arthritis may disappear for periods of time and even completely resolve in many cases.
Some of the signs and symptoms of juvenile arthritis can include:
Other problems that can occur include irritability, fatigue and poor concentration, poor appetite or difficulty getting a good night's sleep, rash, fever and visual problems.
Once you have completed this move on to the next section 'Life with Juvenile Arthritis'.
Arthritis, which occurs before the age of 16 years, is called juvenile arthritis. “Juvenile arthritis” refers to a number of different types of arthritis that occur in children – the most prevalent type is"juvenile idiopathic arthritis" (JIA), also known as “juvenile rheumatoid arthritis” (JRA) or “juvenile chronic arthritis” (JCA). These terms are often used interchangeably within Australia and around the world, which can sometimes be confusing. For our purpose we will use the term juvenile arthritis to describe all the different types of arthritis in childhood, of which some of the more common ones will be discussed further.
How are Kids and Teenagers Affected by Juvenile Arthritis?
Diagnosing Juvenile Arthritis
Juvenile arthritis is very difficult to diagnose - there is no single test which determines whether a child has juvenile arthritis or not. Doctors and rheumatologists consider the childs medical history, and how long symptoms have been present, in order to rule out other possible conditions. They examine the sore joints and look for other symptoms which might lead to a diagnosis of juvenile arthritis. Xrays and laboratory tests for blood and urine (i.e. erythrocyte sedimentation rate, rheumatoid factor test and antinuclear antibody test) can provide further clues, as can testing the fluid in sore joints. This can be a very frustrating and anxious time for families, as they try to determine the cause of their childs problems and come to terms with the possibility that their child may have a chronic and lasting health condition.
Types of Juvenile Arthritis
The main types of juvenile arthritis are:
If you are working with a child or teenager with arthritis you might like to find out more about their particular type of arthritis by clicking on one of the above types. Although children experience similar concerns and problems when they have juvenile arthritis each type can affect a child or teenager differently. You'll see that a child with fibromyalgia may have quite different needs or problems from one who has systemic arthritis.
How does the 'What is Juvenile Arthritis?' section relate to your own work setting? By clicking on the pencil image you will be linked to the 'Working with a Child with Arthritis Plan' - you have the opportunity to make notes about the relevance of this material to your own setting, and to any children with arthritis that you may be working with.