Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis: Know the Signs

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Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis: Know the Signs

Friday, November 13th, 2009 Subscribe To Our Feed

Did you know that there are over a hundred different kinds of arthritis? You also may find it surprising to learn that it’s not only adults who may need to deal with this ailment; children also suffer from it. Though unusual, children can develop a form of the ailment called juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Juvenile and adult rheumatoid arthritis share many symptoms. However you should know that there are specific differences as well.

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is a serious disease that results in joint inflammation that lasts about six weeks. This is actually a common form of the ailment that manifests pretty well as frequently as does adult onset arthritis. As shown by statistics, a quarter of the population will develop arthritis during their life span.

If medical attention isn’t sought, this type of arthritis can develop complications that can endanger one’s life. Children can be diagnosed with multiple types of rheumatoid arthritis. These are classified based on the symptoms the child is undergoing and also the specific joints that are impacted.

The most common symptoms are swollen joints in conjunction with pain and stiffness. Some of the symptoms your child may encounter are swelling in the bones and joints. Physical activity can lead to an increase in the severity of this symptom. Visually, the swelling is the most apparent symptom. The swollen joint will appear red and will be tender to the touch. Afflicted joints can have devastating and painful effects on children, from limiting their range of motion to making it impossible for them to move the joints at all.

Two other possible symptoms of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis are rash and fever. The fever that occasionally sets in is normally high and might dissipate without taking any medicine. If these conditions continue, it might not just be the flu or the common cold, even if the symptoms appear similar. They won’t simply hang around for a couple of days then disappear, but instead will return on a frequent basis. The associated rash is normally light pink and often appears then disappears on a haphazard basis.

Inflamed eyes are another typical sign of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. The eyes could be swollen and red, especially around the center. This is a symptom that takes place almost exclusively in juvenile arthritis, this means that you are unlikely to mistakenly associate it with another illness. This problem occurs mainly in children with pauciarticular JRA, and initially exhibits no signs or symptoms, however it can ultimately result in blindness.

Take your child to a physician without delay if you observe any of these symptoms. If you notice a case of arthritis in a young person, deal with it as quickly as you can instead of avoiding the matter, thinking that it will just go away. There are a number of ways to treat the problem and give your child relief from arthritis pain.