Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is a condition highly similar in symptoms to arthritis in adults. This condition is centered specifically on children about six months to sixteen years old. Similarly to adult rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is an auto immune disease where the immune system of the body loses the function to discern between good and bad cells. The result is that the white blood cells emit chemicals that cause damage and inflammation to certain joints. In juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, there are about three different types.

Oligoarticular Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis

This type of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is specifically one that affects fewer than four joints in the entire body of the child. In most cases of this type of arthritis in children, the most commonly affected area is the hand. Swelling, inflammation and pain in wrist are common for this disease. The knees are also another prone position which is affected by this form of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. In some cases, the symptoms may not manifest as swelling or joint pain but instead be found in the eye, specifically inflammation of the iris.

Polyarticular Arthritis

This form of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is usually more common in the female of the species than males. The swelling and discomfort is more widespread compared to the form of arthritis above and five or more joints are commonly affected at the same time. This form of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis usually manifests in smaller joints in the child's hands and may also affect weight bearing joints in the body. This means the knees, ankles, feet, neck and hips may suffer as well.

Rheumatoid nodules may also appear in points which are subject to pressure when the child sits or leans, such as the elbows, knees and buttocks. The same with all other forms of arthritis, inflammation plays a huge role in the degree of pain that the child may feel when the disease rears its ugly head.

Systemic Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis

This form of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis affects the child's entire body. In this case, when there is swelling and discomfort in one joint in the left side of the body the right side is sure to follow suit in exactly the same joint. Te child may also suffer from high fever that spikes during the evenings and suddenly disappears without the aid of medication. This form of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis may also manifest in rashes that seem to transfer from one spot to another.