Juvenile Arthritis
Introduction:
About 300,000 children under the age of 16 are affected by Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (“Juvenile Arthritis”). Many people are aware of the disease often called “arthritis” which is commonly found in adults. Arthritis is an illness that causes swelling and stiffening of the joints. It wasn’t until just recently that doctors realized children could obtain this disease also. As it was more and more commonly found in children, the term “juvenile idiopathic arthritis” came about. The word “idiopathic” meaning “of unknown origin.” This term was given to children diagnosed at the age of sixteen and younger. The connection between Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA) and Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) is …show more content…
It is common to experience pain, swelling, skin rash, loss of motion and stiffness of the joint. These symptoms are universal in both adults and children. It is important to understand that juvenile idiopathic arthritis is a more complex form of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis as it has six different subtypes. These subtypes include oligoarthritis (two-four joints), polyarthritis (five or more), systemic (affecting the entire body), enthesitis-related, juvenile psoriatic arthritis or undifferentiated (“Juvenile Arthritis”). The two forms of arthritis can be problematic to the individual's daily …show more content…
Due to the fact that the process is so extensive and particular, it can take up to months or even years. One article stated, “There is no single blood test that confirms any type of JA. In children, the key to diagnosis is a careful physical exam, along with a thorough medical history.” (“Juvenile Arthritis”). Initially, the patient would assume the joint pain they are experiencing is caused by an injury of some sort. As Nichole Reibert, a mother of a toddler diagnosed with polyarticular (affecting 5 or more joints) juvenile idiopathic arthritis, stated in an interview “She [Hailey] was limping and had a swollen ankle. We thought she maybe got her foot stuck in her crib” (Reibert). Similarly, Laura Larmour, a women living with arthritis, was diagnosed with osteoarthritis (meaning cartilage between joints breaks down) as a school age child. At the time, her knee had swelled up and she could not straighten it out. Larmour said “I thought maybe it was just stiff from not using it during the night” (Larmour). It is not until the patient realizes the pain or swelling has not eased up that they look to a doctor for medical
Introduction:
About 300,000 children under the age of 16 are affected by Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (“Juvenile Arthritis”). Many people are aware of the disease often called “arthritis” which is commonly found in adults. Arthritis is an illness that causes swelling and stiffening of the joints. It wasn’t until just recently that doctors realized children could obtain this disease also. As it was more and more commonly found in children, the term “juvenile idiopathic arthritis” came about. The word “idiopathic” meaning “of unknown origin.” This term was given to children diagnosed at the age of sixteen and younger. The connection between Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA) and Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) is …show more content…
It is common to experience pain, swelling, skin rash, loss of motion and stiffness of the joint. These symptoms are universal in both adults and children. It is important to understand that juvenile idiopathic arthritis is a more complex form of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis as it has six different subtypes. These subtypes include oligoarthritis (two-four joints), polyarthritis (five or more), systemic (affecting the entire body), enthesitis-related, juvenile psoriatic arthritis or undifferentiated (“Juvenile Arthritis”). The two forms of arthritis can be problematic to the individual's daily …show more content…
Due to the fact that the process is so extensive and particular, it can take up to months or even years. One article stated, “There is no single blood test that confirms any type of JA. In children, the key to diagnosis is a careful physical exam, along with a thorough medical history.” (“Juvenile Arthritis”). Initially, the patient would assume the joint pain they are experiencing is caused by an injury of some sort. As Nichole Reibert, a mother of a toddler diagnosed with polyarticular (affecting 5 or more joints) juvenile idiopathic arthritis, stated in an interview “She [Hailey] was limping and had a swollen ankle. We thought she maybe got her foot stuck in her crib” (Reibert). Similarly, Laura Larmour, a women living with arthritis, was diagnosed with osteoarthritis (meaning cartilage between joints breaks down) as a school age child. At the time, her knee had swelled up and she could not straighten it out. Larmour said “I thought maybe it was just stiff from not using it during the night” (Larmour). It is not until the patient realizes the pain or swelling has not eased up that they look to a doctor for medical