Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment

Symptoms And Treatment Of Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis

Almost 300, 000 kids in the U.S have some type of arthritis, and 50, 000 kids have juvenile arthritis. Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is different from the rheumatoid arthritis that affects adults. JRA causes chronic joint inflammation in children.

Symptoms include limping, rashes that come and go in different areas. sore joints, swelling of joints, stiffness in joints, high fevers in the evening that abruptly go away.

There are three main kinds of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis: Systemic JRA, polyarticular arthritis and oligoarticular JRA.

Poly articular arthritis has symptoms that usually consist of swelling or pain in many joints (5 or more). The child may experience a fever, but it is usually a lower fever. The hand and foot joints are commonly affected. Poly articular arthritis can sometimes be very similar to adult rheumatoid arthritis.

Oligoarticular JRA has symptoms that usually consist of swelling and stiffness, something along with pain, that occur a few joints (four or fewer). This type usually affects the larger joints, such as the shoulder or hip. One half of the children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis have this type.

Systemic JRA will affect the entire body. Your child may get high fevers that continue to get higher in the evenings and disappear or drop randomly. They may experience rashes and inflammation of internal organs, such as the heart, liver, etc. One fifth of the children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis have systemic JRA.

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis can usually be treated with medication, along with physical therapy and plenty of exercise. These treatments usually help relieve pain and take down the inflammation. Also, it will help delay and stop the joints from being destroyed, and help your child be able to do physical activities and allow the joints to function. In some children having this condition makes them feel depressed. The treatment for JRA has improved a lot in that last few decades.

It is unknown as to what exactly causes juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, but it is considered an autoimmune disease. An autoimmune disease is when the body's immune system attacks what it is supposed to protect, which is the body. To be diagnosed with JRA, your child will get a physical examination and the child and the family will be asked questions about what has been happening, recent travels, lifestyle, activities, family medical history, etc. It is important that the child gets medical treatment to prevent further damage. Treating at home will not work. You should try to encourage and be positive to the child. Do not encourage bed rest unless the disease is extremely severe. Swimming is a very good activity for children with JRA to participate in. Help teach the child ways to cope with the aches and pains. Hot baths, pain relievers, exercises, meditation, etc. can really help. You can even join groups where other children have the same disease, this might make the child feel more normal and become more positive. Remember to keep your child eating a healthy diet. Maintaining a good diet will provide them with energy and keep bones strong and flexible. Make sure they plenty magnesium and vitamin D.