Juvenile rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA) is a term used to describe a common type of arthritis in children. It is a long-term (chronic) disease resulting in joint pain and swelling.
Alternative NamesJuvenile chronic polyarthritis; JRA; Still's disease; Juvenile idiopathic arthritis
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsThe cause of JRA is not known. It is thought to be an autoimmune illness. In this type of condition, the body's immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys healthy body tissue.
JRA usually occurs before age 16.
It is divided into several categories:
Many other medical problems can cause symptoms similar to those of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, including:
Arthritis symptoms:
Body-wide JRA symptoms:
JRA can also cause eye inflammation called uveitis. This problem can occur without any eye symptoms, or someone may have:
The physical examination may show swollen, warm, and tender joints that hurt to move. The child may have a rash. Other signs include:
Blood tests may include:
Any or all of these blood tests may be normal in patients with JRA.
The doctor may need to tap a joint. This means putting a small needle into a joint that is swollen. This can help to find the cause of the arthritis. By removing fluid, the joint may feel better, too. Sometimes, the doctor will inject steroids into the joint to help decrease the swelling.
Other tests:
When only a small number of joints are involved, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen or naproxen may be enough to control symptoms.
Corticosteroids may be used for more severe flare-ups to help control symptoms.
Children who have arthritis in many joints, or who have fever, rash, and swollen glands may need other medicines. These medicines are called disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). They can decrease or prevent swelling or inflammation in the body. DMARDs include:
It is important for children with JRA to stay active and keep their muscles strong. Walking, bicycling, and swimming may be good activities. Children should learn to warm up before exercising.
Support and help for children who experience sadness or anger about their arthritis is also very important.
Some children with JRA may need surgery, including joint replacement.
Expectations (prognosis)JRA is seldom life threatening.
Children who have many joints involved, or who have a positive rheumatoid factor are more likely to have chronic pain and poor school attendance, and to be disabled.
Long periods with no symptoms are more common in those who have only a small number of joints involved. Many patients with JRA eventually go into remission with very little loss of function and deformity.
For additional information and resources, see arthritis support group.
ComplicationsCall for an appointment with your health care provider if:
There is no known prevention for JRA.
ReferencesMiller ML, Cassidy JT. Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap 154.
Lovell DJ, Ruperto N, Goodman S, Reiff A, Jung L, Jarosova K, et al. Pediatric Rheumatology Collaborative Study Group: Pediatric Rheumatology International Trials Organisation. Adalimumab with or without methotrexate in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. N Engl J Med. 2008;359:810-820.
Cespedes-Cruz A, Gutierrez-Suarez R, Pistorio A, Ravelli A, Loy A, Murray KJ, et al. Pediatric Rheumatology International Trials Organization (PRINTO). Methotrexate improves the health-related quality of life of children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Ann Rheum Dis. 2008;67:309-314.
Ravelli A, Martini A. Juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Lancet. 2007;369:767-778.
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) is a term used to describe a common type of arthritis in children. It is a long-term (chronic) disease resulting in joint pain and swelling.
Alternative NamesJuvenile chronic polyarthritis; JRA; Still's disease; Juvenile idiopathic arthritis
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsThe cause of JRA is not known. It is thought to be an autoimmune illness. This means the body's immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys healthy body tissue.
JRA usually occurs before age 16. Symptoms may start as early as 6 months old.
It is divided into several types:
Symptoms of JRA may begin with a swollen joint, limping, a spiking fever, or a new rash.
Symptoms can include:
Body-wide JRA symptoms:
JRA can also cause eye problems called uveitis, iridocyclitis, or iritis. There may be no symptoms, or the person may have:
The physical examination may show swollen, warm, and tender joints that hurt to move. The child may have a rash. Other signs include:
Blood tests that may be done include:
Any or all of these blood tests may be normal in patients with JRA.
The health care provider may place a small needle into a swollen joint to remove fluid. This can help to find the cause of the arthritis and help relieve pain, too. Sometimes, the health care provider will inject steroids into the joint to help reduce swelling.
Other tests that may be done include:
When only a small number of joints are involved, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen or naproxen may be enough to control symptoms.
Corticosteroids may be used for more severe flare-ups to help control symptoms.
Children who have arthritis in many joints, or who have fever, rash, and swollen glands may need other medicines. These medicines are called disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). They can decrease or prevent swelling in the joints or body. DMARDs include:
It is important for children with JRA to stay active and keep their muscles strong.
Exercise will help keep their muscles and joints strong and mobile.
Support and help for children who have sadness or anger about their arthritis is also very important.
Some children with JRA may need surgery, including joint replacement.
Expectations (prognosis)Long periods with no symptoms are more common in those who have only a small number of joints involved. Many children with JRA eventually go into remission with very little loss of function and joint damage.
The greater the number of joints affected, the more severe the disease and the less likely that the symptoms will eventually go into total remission.
Children with JRA who have many joints involved, or who have a positive rheumatoid factor are more likely to have chronic pain, disability, and poor school attendance. The greater the number of joints affected, the more severe the disease and the less likely that the symptoms will eventually go into total remission.
For additional information and resources, see: Arthritis support group
ComplicationsCall for an appointment with your health care provider if:
There is no known prevention for JRA.
ReferencesLong AR, Rouster-Stevens KA. The role of exercise therapy in the management of juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Curr Opin Rheumatol. 2010 Mar;22(2):213-7.
Prince FH, Otten MH, van Suijlekom-Smit LW. Diagnosis and management of juvenile idiopathic arthritis. BMJ. 2010 Dec 3;341:c6434.
Ruperto N, Lovell DJ, Quartier P, et al; Paediatric Rheumatology International Trials Organization and the Pediatric Rheumatology Collaborative Study Group. Long-term safety and efficacy of abatacept in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 2010 Jun;62(6):1792-802.
Reviewed ByReview Date: 06/28/2011
Ariel D. Teitel, M.D., M.B.A., Chief, Division of Rheumatology, St. Vincent's Hospital, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
Yes,
Yes you can, This is called Juvenile Rheumatoid arthritis and even baby's can have serious problems with it.
There are over a hundred forms of arthritis but there is only one rheumatoid arthritis unless you also count juvenile RA as well.
JUVENILE RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS was originaly described by George F. Still in 1897. He described several kinds of arthritis characterized by severe systemic symptoms associated with multiple joint involvement
A donation can be made to the Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis Foundation by visiting the foundation's official website and following the links on the website to make a donation.
Juvenile RA can have an effect on any of the joints in the body.
Go to the related link
Either osteoarthritis gained as a result of trauma in an accident or an inflammatory arthritis which is an autoimmune disease like juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
Yes it is, there is a form of arthritis called Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
About 250,000 children are said to have JRA in the USA.
Yes, you can actually be born with arthritis. Most of the people born with arthritis are born with Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Celebrex is an FDA approved treatment for Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis for children 2 years of age and above. As long as the medication is taken as prescribed it has been proven to be successful in treating pain associated with JRA.