Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) is a type of arthritis that affects children. Usually occurring before the age of 16, it is a chronic disease that may alter the everyday life of a child. Common symptoms of JRA include swelling, pain, and stiffness. Some children have symptoms for only a few months, while others experience them throughout their lifetime. The exact cause of JRA is not known. However, it is thought to occur as a result of the immune system attacking the body by mistake.
It is one of the most common diseases in children in the United States. In fact, about 300,000 children in the United States have a form of juvenile arthritis. [1]
JRA is a group of diseases that can be categorized into three main types. Each type has varying symptoms and treatments.
- Oligoarticular JRA. This is the most common type of JRA. It only affects a few joints, typically fewer than 5. The large joints such as the knees, ankles, and wrists are the most commonly affected areas, but smaller joints such as the toes and fingers may also be affected. Oligoarticular JRA only affects a joint on one side of the body. It also has the tendency to cause eye inflammations
- Polyarticular JRA. This type of JRA typically affects five or more joints in the first six months of the disease. It is more common in girls than in boys, and usually affects the knees, wrists, ankles, and other weight-bearing joints of the body. Unlike Oligoarticular JRA, this type of JRA affects the same joints on both sides of the body.
- Systemic JRA. This type of JRA is affects small joints and may also affect many systems of the body including the internal organs. It is accompanied by fever and rashes that may come and go. Also known as Still’s disease, systemic JRA
Treatments for JRA focus on relieving pain and inflammation, and preventing joint damage. They are usually a combination of medications, physical therapy, exercise, and surgery.
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