Arthritis

About Arthritis

The term rheumatoid refers to diseases that affect the muscles, tendons, joints, bones, or nerves. Arthritis is an inflammation (which means that it's characterized by heat, swelling, and pain) of the synovial membrane (the lining of the joints, such as the knees or knuckles). When the synovium becomes inflamed, fluid is produced, and the joints can become stiff, swollen, painful, and warm to the touch.

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) is the most common kind of arthritis among kids and teens. Usually diagnosed between the ages of 2 and 16, it's also called juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) because it is different from adult rheumatoid arthritis.

Types of JRA

The three major types of JRA are:

Oligoarticular JRA. The prefix oligo means "few" and articular means "associated with a joint or joints." This kind of JRA involves four or fewer joints and usually affects larger joints such as the knee. About half the kids and teens with JRA have the oligoarticular type. It generally begins in young children between infancy and age 5.

Polyarticular JRA. The prefix poly means "many." Polyarticular JRA affects five or more joints, usually the small ones in the hand and fingers. It also can affect the knees, hips, ankles, feet, and neck. Polyarticular JRA may have symmetric involvement of joints, meaning it affects the same joint on each side of the body. Involved joints are usually swollen. Symptoms may include a low-grade fever, tiredness, poor appetite, and rheumatoid nodules (bumps) on the affected joints.

Systemic JRA. Systemic JRA can affect several parts of the body, including internal organs and joints. This is the least common form of JRA. The first signs of systemic JRA are usually high fevers, chills, and a rash. Arthritis may begin with the fevers or not until weeks or months later. Fever usually occurs late in the afternoon or evening and can go up to 103° Fahrenheit (39.4° Celsius) or higher and return to normal within a few hours. The person may feel very sick when his or her temperature is high but fine during the rest of the day. About half of the kids and teens with systemic JRA recover completely, whereas the other half experience joint symptoms, such as pain and stiffness, which may last into adulthood.

Information from – www.kidshealth.org