Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis: Risk factors, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis also recently termed as juvenile idiopathic arthritis, is a condition where a child below the age of 16 years, experience inflammation and stiffness of joints for more than 6 weeks. Due to inflammation, there is redness, swelling, soreness and warmth at the affected joints. Any joint of the body can be affected by juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Pain at joints is not considered as an important symptom as many children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis do not experience any pain.

Unlike rheumatoid arthritis in adults, juvenile idiopathic arthritis is self-limiting and children suffering from this condition can lead a normal and healthy life.

Types of juvenile idiopathic arthritis:

There are three different types of juvenile idiopathic arthritis:

• Pauciarticular: In this type of arthritis four or less than four joints are affected. Large joints are most affected. The knee joint is mostly affected.
• Polyarticular: Polyarticular arthritis is symmetric in nature affecting 5 or more joints, especially small joints, sometimes large joints are even affected.
• Systemic: In this type of arthritis pain and rash is also seen along with inflammation of joints. This condition also affects heart, liver, spleen and lymph nodes.

Symptoms:

The symptoms associated with juvenile idiopathic arthritis are:

• Pain, few children may not complain about pain but many children complain of pain around their joints that are affected.
• Swelling, is very commonly seen around affected joints, especially the knee joint.
• Stiffness is commonly seen early in the morning.
• Fever is associated in some cases of juvenile idiopathic arthritis especially in the evening.
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Rash
• Redness around the affected joints.
• Limping, especially early in the morning due to pain and stiffness of the joints.

Causes:

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis is an autoimmune disorder, mostly Hereditary or sometimes can be caused under the effects of outer environmental factors.

Risk factors:

The risk factors are:

• Juvenile idiopathic arthritis is more commonly seen in girls.
• Family history.

Complications:

Serious complications can be caused due to juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Keeping an eye on the symptoms and seeking appropriate medical care greatly decrease the chances of developing the following complications:

• Stunned growth: In early years children diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis experience slower growth than normal affecting the overall height of the child.
• Uveitis: Uveitis or inflammation of the eye, which if left untreated can lead to cataract, glaucoma or even blindness sometimes.
• Chances of developing rheumatoid arthritis in their later life.
• An unpredicted flare-up of symptoms.
• Joint contracture.
• Muscle weakness and muscle loss
• Osteoporosis

Lifestyle modifications to relief symptoms

• Exercise regularly: Exercise is very important as it reduces the risk of joints contracture of joints and prevents muscles from wasting.
• Hot and cold application: To prevent stiffness of joints either hot or cold application can be done.
• Children suffering from juvenile idiopathic arthritis must eat well. They should eat protein and mineral rich food to prevent wasting of muscle, and even maintain a normal growth curve.
• Calcium-rich food must be taken to prevent complications of osteoporosis.

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