Did you know that there are over a hundred different sorts of arthritis? You also might find it surprising to learn that it is not only adults who might have to deal with this disease; children also go through it. Kids are susceptible to a form of this disorder known as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis in children has many of the same symptoms as those experienced by adults. But you should know that there are certain differences in addition.
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is a serious medical condition that leads to joint inflammation that lasts about six weeks. This type of arthritis is actually not as rare as you might think, and can take place just as frequently as adult onset arthritis. As shown by statistics, a quarter of the population will develop arthritis throughout their life span.
Because of its complicated nature, this kind of arthritis, if not medically addressed, can be fatal. Children can be diagnosed with multiple kinds of rheumatoid arthritis. These are classified according to the symptoms the child is experiencing and also the specific joints that are affected.
The most common symptoms are swollen joints in conjunction with pain and stiffness. Your child may suffer from unusual pain or swelling in the bones and joints. Physical activity can result in an increase in the severity of this symptom. One may not be able to visually note pain and stiffness, but swelling will be very obvious. The swollen joint will appear red and will be tender to the touch. Because of the pain, the joint will be too hard to move and will impact its mobility.
Two other possible symptoms of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis are rash and fever. The fever associated with this ailment is quite elevated, and it might simply go away on its own. If these symptoms don’t go away, you can be sure your child is not under the influence of a typical cold or flu. They will continue to come back time and time again instead of just staying for a short period of time and then going away. The rash that accompanies the ailment is pinkish in color and can come and go on various parts of the body.
Eye inflammation frequently happens in children who experience juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. The eyes could be swollen and red, particularly around the center. You are less likely to link this symptom to another disease since it is unique to JRA. This problem occurs largely in children with pauciarticular JRA, and at first exhibits no signs or symptoms, but it can ultimately result in blindness.
Children suffering from these symptoms need immediate medical attention. Juvenile arthritis in any form is not something that you ought to try to contend with by yourself or ignore. There are a number of ways to treat the problem and give your child relief from arthritis pain.
