Juvenile Arthritis

What is it?

Points To Remember About Juvenile Arthritis

• Juvenile arthritis is the term used to describe arthritis, or inflammation of the joints, in children.
• The most common symptoms of juvenile arthritis are joint swelling, pain, and stiffness that don’t go away.
• Juvenile arthritis is usually an autoimmune disorder. In an autoimmune disorder, the immune system attacks some of the body’s own healthy cells and tissues.
• To diagnose juvenile arthritis, a doctor may perform a physical exam, ask about family health history, and order lab or blood tests, and x-rays.
• Juvenile arthritis can make it hard to take part in social and after-school activities, and it can make schoolwork more difficult. But, all family members can help the child both physically and emotionally.
• Exercise is key to reducing the symptoms of arthritis and maintaining range of motion of the joints.
• Inflammation inside of the eye and growth problems may also occur with juvenile arthritis.

Juvenile arthritis is the term used to describe arthritis in children. Children can get arthritis just like adults. Arthritis is caused by inflammation of the joints. A joint is where two or more bones are joined together. Arthritis causes

• Pain.
• Swelling.
• Stiffness.
• Loss of motion.

The most common type of arthritis in children is called juvenile idiopathic arthritis (idiopathic means “from unknown causes”). There are several other forms of arthritis affecting children.

Juvenile arthritis is a rheumatic disease, or one that causes loss of function due to an inflamed supporting structure or structures of the body. Some rheumatic diseases also can involve internal organs.