07/07/2025
July is officially Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month (JAAM), a time dedicated to raising awareness that arthritis can affect children as young as infants—not just adults.
🧠 What Is Juvenile Arthritis?
Juvenile Arthritis (JA) refers to a group of autoimmune and inflammatory conditions that develop in children under age 16, causing chronic joint inflammation. The immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s healthy tissue, primarily the joints — but it can also affect the eyes, skin, and internal organs.
The most common form is Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) (formerly known as Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis).
🚨 Symptoms of Juvenile Arthritis
Symptoms vary by type, but common signs include:
• Joint pain, especially in the morning or after naps
• Stiffness that improves with movement
• Swelling and warmth in joints (commonly knees, ankles, wrists)
• Fatigue and low energy
• Limping or favoring one limb
• Fever, rash, or weight loss (in systemic types)
• Eye inflammation (uveitis), which may not have noticeable symptoms early on
🔍 Types of Juvenile Arthritis
There are several subtypes of JIA:
1. Oligoarticular JIA (most common)
• Affects 1–4 joints (usually knees, ankles)
• Often occurs in girls under 6
• Risk of eye inflammation (uveitis)
2. Polyarticular JIA
• Affects 5 or more joints
• May resemble adult rheumatoid arthritis
• Can include small joints (hands, fingers)
3. Systemic JIA
• Affects the entire body
• Includes fever, rash, enlarged organs, and joint inflammation
• May lead to severe complications like MAS (Macrophage Activation Syndrome)
4. Enthesitis-related arthritis
• Involves joints and the entheses (where tendons/ligaments attach to bone)
• Often affects spine, hips, knees
• Linked to HLA-B27 gene
5. Psoriatic Arthritis
• Occurs with psoriasis
• Involves joint pain, skin rashes, and nail changes
6. Undifferentiated arthritis
• Doesn’t fit into the other types but shows signs of chronic inflammation
🛠️ How Do You Manage Juvenile Arthritis?
1. Medical Treatment
• NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen): reduce inflammation/pain
• DMARDs (methotrexate): slow disease progression
• Biologics (etanercept, adalimumab): target immune pathways
• Steroids: short-term for flare-ups (oral or injection)
2. Therapy & Lifestyle
• Physical therapy (PT): improves flexibility, strength, posture
• Occupational therapy (OT): helps with daily activities and joint protection
• Exercise: low-impact activities like swimming, biking, yoga
• Diet: anti-inflammatory foods (omega-3s, fruits, veggies)
3. Emotional & Social Support
• Counseling for anxiety/depression
• Support groups for kids and parents
• School accommodations if needed (IEP or 504 plans)
🩺 When Should You See a Doctor?
Seek medical attention if your child shows:
• Persistent joint pain or swelling (especially in the morning)
• Limping without injury
• Unexplained fevers
• Eye redness or vision changes
• Fatigue or irritability with movement
• Symptoms lasting 6+ weeks
Early diagnosis and treatment are essential to avoid joint damage, growth problems, or vision loss.
💊 Is Juvenile Arthritis Treatable?
Yes — it is treatable, though not always curable. Many children go into remission with early and consistent treatment. Long-term outlook varies by type, severity, and how quickly treatment begins.
• Some children outgrow symptoms by adulthood.
• Others may need lifelong management but can lead full, active lives with the right care.
🧬 Other Key Facts
• It affects 1 in 1,000 children in the U.S.
• Girls are more commonly affected than boys (especially in some types).
• JA is not contagious or caused by injury or activity.
