d a loss of function.
Arthritis in kids is known as juvenile idiopathic arthritis, meaning it stems from unknown causes. Researchers have even determined that it’s not a genetic condition. There are different types of JA, which, include:
- Systemic JA affects the whole body and also causes fevers, rash, and joint pain.
- Oligoarticular affects four or fewer joints and is the most common— and often mildest— form of the disease.
- Polyarticular arthritis—rheumatoid factor negative—affects five or more joints and causes fever and the development of bumps when pressure is put on the body.
- Polyarticular arthritis— rheumatoid factor positive—indicates a child has specific proteins in their blood that make them more susceptible to joint damage and erosion of joint tissue.
- Psoriatic arthritis causes a red, scaly rash in addition to joint pain.
- Enthesitis-related arthritis affects the legs and spine by causing inflammation in areas where tendons attach to bones. This form of arthritis is often associated with juvenile ankylosing spondylitis (inflammation of the lower back joints) and inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis).
- Undifferentiated arthritis, meaning the condition fits into more than one type—or none of the previous categories.
Different types of arthritis present with different symptoms, and require variations in treatment. Although pediatric rheumatologists are typically the primary medical providers for JA patients, most children see a team of doctors, including orthopedists, ophthalmologists, dentists, and others.
Do You Suspect Juvenile Arthritis? When to See a Doctor
One of the goals of Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month 2021 is to alert parents and caregivers to the signs of JA. Sometimes, the symptoms can mimic other conditions and aren’t always obvious. Again, because most people associate arthritis with painful, swollen joints, in the elderly, it’s easy to mistake symptoms of JA for something else.
It’s also important to note that while pain and joint swelling are common with JA, they aren’t always the first symptoms to appear or may not be as obvious as others. Parents should make an appointment to see an orthopedic doctor or rheumatologist if their child has symptoms including:
- Soreness or pain in the joints.
- Joint swelling.
- Warmth and inflammation in the joints.
- Swollen fingers and toes.
- Stiffness in the morning after sleeping.
- Reluctance to use an arm or leg.
- Reduced activity.
- Challenges with fine motor activities.
- Persistent, low-grade fever.
- Skin rashes.
- Changes in the finger and toenails.
- Muscle weakness.
- Growth irregularities, including uneven limb development or slow growth.
Some children also develop an eye condition called iridocyclitis, or inflammation of the colored part of the eye. This is a treatable condition, but because it typically doesn’t have any symptoms, it must be diagnosed by an eye doctor during a regular eye exam. If your eye doctor mentions iridocyclitis, further examination by a rheumatologist is needed.
Treating Juvenile Arthritis
Diagnosing and treating JA is vital to preventing or reducing permanent joint damage. In fact, with treatment, most children with JA live normal, healthy, and active lives. Although there is no cure for arthritis (but one of the goals of Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month is to spread awareness and raise money to help find one) with treatment, children can go into remission, meaning there are few, or no symptoms of the disease.
Doctors diagnose JA by checking for physical signs of the disease (rash, joint swelling, pain, limited range of motion) and performing imaging and lab tests to look for signs of joint damage and inflammatory markers, such as specific proteins. Performing multiple tests also helps rule out other potential illnesses, such as Lyme disease.
Treatment takes a multifaceted approach, with the goals of slowing disease progression, relieving symptoms, reducing joint damage and preserving joint function, and reducing the long-term health effects of the disease. Conservative treatment plans