Junior rheumatoid arthritis, also known as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis or JRA, is an autoimmune disorder that affects children 16 years of age or younger. It is the most common type of arthritis in children, with nearly 300,000 children in North America possibly affected by this disease. Autoimmune diseases like junior rheumatoid arthritis occur when the body's own immune system begins to attack joints, causing pain, inflammation and damage. There is no cure for junior rheumatoid arthritis, and the symptoms often come and go throughout the patient's life.

Symptoms

The symptoms of junior rheumatoid arthritis typically include joint pain that is worse in the morning and improves throughout the day. The child may be tired and grumpy and he may spike a fever in the evenings. Swollen lymph nodes and rashes are also common with junior rheumatoid arthritis. If your child exhibits any or all of these symptoms, it is important to get him into the doctor as soon as possible for a diagnosis. The earlier treatment is begun on junior rheumatoid arthritis, the more effectively the symptoms can be managed in most cases.

Types of Junior Rheumatoid Arthritis

There are many different types of junior rheumatoid arthritis, which can complicate both the diagnosis and the treatment plan to some extent. The most common type is pauciarticular JRA, which is characterized by pain in just a few of the larger joints like the knees. The next type is polyarticular JRA, which usually involves smaller joints like the fingers and feet. This type of junior rheumatoid arthritis often only affects one side of the child's body. The last type is systemic JRA, which is also known as Still's Disease. This illness can affect internal organs as well as joints, and is the least common type of junior rheumatoid arthritis. In some cases, psoriatric arthritis can also occur, which causes a skin condition on top of painful joint damage.

Treatment Options

The most common treatment for junior rheumatoid arthritis is medication that can relieve painful symptoms and slow the progression of the disease. some children will only need medication for pain, while those with more severe forms of junior rheumatoid arthritis may require other types of medication to suppress the immune system and slow disease progression. Many children also respond well to physical therapy to help them keep muscles, joints and bones working properly. Occupational therapy can be helpful in teaching children how to complete tasks and participate in activities despite their disease.

Junior rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that has no known cure at this time. The good news is that early diagnosis and an effective treatment plan can help children find relief from their symptoms and enjoy a higher quality of life.