Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis is a clinically heterogeneous group of arthritis which usually affects children below 16 years old. The cause of this condition is not yet known. It is a term that consists of some categories with different symptoms, genetic background, and appearance. Although the cause is still blurred, many suggest that genetic and environmental factors contribute a lot to Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis. The uncommon condition happens in form of persistent inflammation at one or more joints. The further effects in children can be fever, rashes, and lymph node swelling. Medical practitioners usually make diagnosis based on one’s symptoms and physical examination or activity.

Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis is not a genetic condition, but hereditary factors may increase a child’s risk to suffer form the disease. Since there are several categories of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, the symptoms also vary. Medical practitioners usually know which category the condition falls in by examining the symptoms that attack and the amount of joints that are affected. Here are some of the most common categories of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis.
1. Pauciarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis, which affects less than four joints, usually at the lower parts of body such as legs, knees, and jaws.
2. Polyarthritis, which affects five or more joints. In extreme cases, it can affect over 20 joints at once. To acknowledge the symptoms, practitioners also look at whether it affects two sides of joints or not, it develops slowly or instantly, and in which parts the inflammation happens.
3. Systemic disease, which has the symptoms such as high fever and rashes. The fever can suddenly resolve and then come back again with highest temperature during the afternoons or evenings for at least two weeks, while rashes happen in form of flat, pink colored patches on the upper part of legs or arms. Children may feel enlarged lymph, liver and spleen nodes, as well as chest pain.

For common characteristics, children will feel stiff, swollen, and warm at the affected joints. There is also pain, but usually only significant when the joints are moved. Badly, the pain can last for years if children or parents do not recognize and give appropriate treatment. It is important that parents keep monitoring their children’s condition. Joint deformities, physical growth interference, jaw growth interference, and chin growth can happen as a result of long untreated Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, while chronic attack will lead to permanent joint damage in long term.