Arthritis In Children

Types Of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis In Children

Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) is the newer designation for Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA). Whereas JRA was classified into three major types, JIA has seven classifications. What are the types of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis in children?

Oligoarthritis was formerly referred to as pauciarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Although this type of JIA has the least number of joints affected within the first six months, it is more likely to affect the eyes and may even lead to blindness.

Polyarthritis consists of two types - rheumatoid factor positive and rheumatoid factor negative. With either rheumatoid factor positive or negative, five or more joints are affected within the first six months of developing the condition. The only difference is that with rheumatoid factor negative, tests for the factor never reveal a positive, whereas for rheumatoid factor positive, at least two test results for the factor come back positive with a specific amount of time in between testing.

Systematic arthritis affects more systems in the body, such as lymph nodes and internal organs. The child will have a high fever over several weeks that spikes for at least three days, a rash will come and go and internal organs will be inflamed.

The above-described four types of JIA were also the three classifications of Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. With the new label of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, three more types were added.

Psoriatic arthritis is basically JIA with the addition of psoriasis, or if a family member has psoriasis. Other symptoms may be present with or without the rash.

Enthesitis-related arthritis also involves the tendons or ligaments that attach to the joints, more frequently the knee or ankle.

Undifferentiated arthritis is the catch-all diagnosis for any child that has JIA and who either doesn't fit completely into one category, or one who has symptoms of JIA in more than one category.

The new designation for Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, allows for greater classification of the condition, and thus more specific treatment options.

SOURCE:

Mayo Clinic; Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/juvenile-rheumatoid-arthritis/DS00018