A Quick Guide To Understanding Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis

Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA) is defined as any arthritis that causes joint inflammation and stiffness for more than 6 weeks in a child of 16 years of age or less. Inflammation causes redness, swelling, warmth, and soreness in the joints, although many children with JRA do not complain of joint pain. Any joint can be affected and inflammation may limit the mobility of affected joints.

There are three types of JRA, determined by the number of joints involved, the symptoms, and the presence or absence of certain antibodies in the blood.

Pauciarticular is the most common form of JRA and refers to those cases when four or fewer joints are affected. Girls under age 8 are most likely to develop this type of Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Polyarticular affects 30 percent of all children with JRA. In polyarticular disease, five or more joints are affected.

The systemic form of JRA is characterized by joint swelling, fever and a light pink rash, and may also affect internal organs such as the heart, liver, spleen, and lymph nodes.

In trying to understand the causes of Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis scientists have been studying the immune system. JRA is an autoimmune disorder, which means the body mistakenly identifies some of its own cells and tissues as foreign. The immune system, which normally helps to fight off harmful, foreign substances such as bacteria or viruses, begins to attack healthy cells and tissues.

Why the immune system goes awry in children is still undetermined. Scientists suspect it is a two-step process. First something in a child's genetic makeup gives them a tendency to develop Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis; and then an environmental factor, such as a virus, triggers its development.

The primary goals of treatment for a child with JRA are to preserve a high level of physical and social functioning and maintain a good quality of life. To achieve these goals, doctors recommend treatments to reduce swelling; maintain full movement in the affected joints; relieve pain; and identify, treat, and prevent complications. Most children with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis need medication and physical therapy to reach these goals.

There are several things that family members can do to help the child through the treatment process and with the emotional and physical complications of Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis.

First, they should treat the child as normally as possible.

In addition, they should encourage exercise and physical therapy for the child. During symptom-free periods, many doctors suggest playing team sports or doing other activities to help keep the joints strong and flexible and to provide play time with other children and encourage appropriate social development.

Parents should also work closely with the school to develop a suitable lesson plan for the child and to educate teachers and classmates about the disease and its effects.

Finally, it's important to make sure the child understands that getting Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis is nobody's fault. Some children believe that JRA is a punishment for something they've done.

Parents, as well as the child, might also consider joining a support group.

Here are some Internet sources that can provide additional information on Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, its forms and its treatments:

American Juvenile Arthritis Organization (AJAO)
The primary nonprofit organization devoted to childhood rheumatic diseases.
http://www.arthritis.org/

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Information Clearinghouse
A public service sponsored by the NIAMS that provides health information devoted to childhood rheumatic diseases.
http://www.niams.nih.gov/

About Arthritis Today
Information on the causes, symptoms, and treatments of arthritis.
http://www.aboutarthritistoday.com/juvenilerheumatoidarthritis/

Kids on the Block, Inc.
An educational program that uses puppets to show how JRA can affect school, sports, friends, and family.
http://www.kotb.com/

About David: David B. Silva is the webmaster for About Arthritis Today (http://aboutarthritistoday.com), a website on the causes, symptoms, and treatments of arthritis. It spans all the various forms: rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, with articles, newest research, and links to other resources. Visit http://aboutarthritistoday.com.