JUVENILE ARTHRITIS

Identifying and Managing Juvenile Arthritis

A child's drawing of what Juvenile Arthritis can feel like

Juvenile arthritis is a general term that describes the various types of arthritis that may occur between birth and 16 years of age.

Arthritis can cause pain, stiffness, swelling and often inflammation in one or more joints. It is often thought that arthritis only affects older people, but around one in every 1,000 children have some form of juvenile arthritis.

The cause of juvenile arthritis is not known. Genes are thought to cause or contribute to some types, but lifestyle factors or triggers have also been found to explain why arthritis occurs in some children.

Prevention is not possible, since the cause is not known.  But with appropriate medication, physiotherapy and a home program of stretches and strengthening exercises can make symptoms manageable and improve quality of  life substantially

Symptoms

Some of the symptoms of juvenile arthritis can include:

  • Joint pain
  • Joint swelling
  • Joint stiffness
  • Fever and general feeling of being unwell
  • Skin rashes
  • Anaemia
  • Vision problems.
  • Eye Inflammation
  • Fatigue

Arthritis in Children and Young Adults

swelling in a number of finger joints

Common types of juvenile arthritis

  • Oligoarthritis
  • Polyarticular arthritis – rheumatoid factor negative
  • Polyarticular arthritis – rheumatoid factor positive
  • Enthesitis arthritis
  • Psoriatic arthritis.
  • Ankylosing Spondylitis

Diagnosis Methods

Juvenile arthritis is diagnosed using a number of tests including:

  • Medical history
  • Physical examination
  • Blood tests –
  • X-rays
  • Eye examination

Treatment options

In most cases, early diagnosis and treatment means a good outlook for the child with juvenile arthritis. Doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, dietitians, podiatrists, psychologists and social workers may all be a part of the team that treats the child.

Treatments may include:

  • Physiotherapy to strengthen muscles, keep the joints flexible and encourage normal limb development.
  • Hydrotherapy to relieve pain and maintain joint and muscle flexibility
  • Medications such as NSAIDs (non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs) and DMARDs (disease modifying anti rheumatoid drugs) to reduce inflammation in the affected joints and avoid long-term damage to those joints. New medications called ‘biologics’ are sometimes used for more severe cases.
  • Analgesics are used to treat pain
  • Steroids

Where to get help

  • Your GP
  • A specialist paediatric rheumatologist
  • Physiotherapist


Physiotherapy management includes:

  • providing the child and their family with education on effective stretching techniques for the affected joint;
  • core stability and pelvic stability exercises to support the joints
  • postural exercises to prevent disfigurement or change in back shape
  • hydrotherapy to relieve pain and stretch out stiff joints and tight muscles
  • advice on “pacing” and ensuring adequate rest and relaxtion
  • helping the child work out suitable more gentle forms of exercise during flare-ups that still enable child to mainatin good social contact with friends and peers.

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