Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
Arthritis has always been erroneously thought of as a condition that affects the elderly. Unfortunately, it does affect the children as well. Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis most commonly affects children. Though it is generally mild, causing hardly any problems, in severe cases it causes damage to the joints and the tissues. Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis causes inflammation of the joints, stiff and bent joints, damage to the joints, and change in the growth. As is the case of Ankylosing Spondylitis, children suffering from juvenile rheumatoid arthritis also suffer from stiffness of the joints in the morning on waking up, or after a prolonged period of rest.
However, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis too, affects different children differently, and not all children may experience all these symptoms. Even the degree of severity of a particular symptom may vary from children to children. Even in the case of the same child, the symptoms may vary from one day to another.
The most popular hypothesis is that juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is caused by the inability of the body to differentiate between its own tissue and foreign invaders, such as viruses and bacteria. Ironically, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis may actually be the result of the effort of the body to defend itself against disease.
There are three categories of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis: polyarticular, pauciaticular, and systematic juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. These three categories have different symptoms and require different appropriate treatment.
The cause of the disease is unknown, even in the case of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. The child complaining of joint pain is often examined to confirm for rheumatoid arthritis. The symptoms include difficulty to get up after sitting down, pain in the mornings while waking up-everything that is caused by the stiffness and swelling of the joints. They are also asked for a family history of rheumatoid arthritis. Once the disease is suspected, preliminary tests are conducted to understand the intensity of the disease. On the basis of the test results, the child is given treatment and medication. While some have an easy recovery, others suffer from more complicated symptoms. Sometimes, in some children, the symptoms of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis remain dormant for a period of time. It may suddenly emerge or “flare up” when the child least expects it.
Polyarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis affects five joints or more. It affects the girls more than boys, and mainly teenagers. This type normally affects the hands and the finger joints, but can also affect the neck, jaw, hips, knees, and ankles. If affecting the spine, the child may find it difficult to turn the head due to stiffness in the neck.
Systemic onset juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is the least common but affects both boys and girls alike. It is associated with inflammation of the internal organs. Symptoms may include daily fever as high as 103 degree and above, lasting for weeks or months. Inflammation and joint pain may, or may not, accompany the fever initially, but may appear months later.
Tags: Fitness
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