Juvenile rhematoid arthritis (JRA) rhuematoid arthritus

Juvenile arthritis, is a collective term for different types of rheumatory arthritis that occur in children. This can be juvenile rhematoid arthritis, different types of lupus, ankylosing spondylitis or other types of rheumatory arthritis.

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) is the chronical rhrumotoid arthritis affecting children. It is similar to adult rheumetoid arthrities even though JRA usually has a better prognosis with fewer long term effects on the joints and lower risk of degraded functions as the disease progresses. JRA is also know as JIA (juvenile idiopatic atrhtitis).

Who will get juvenile rhumitoid arthritis?

The reason why some children get JRA is not known today. We do know that there is a hereditary factor but there is also further, yet unknown factors required to set off the disease. Juvenile rhuematoid arthritis is more common in girls than boys.

Symptoms of juvenile rhumatoid arthritis

There are several different types of JRA (juvenile rhematoid arthiritis) that will have different symptoms. The common factor for all the forms of the condition is the arthritus that can affect anything from a single joint to more or less every joint in the body. The joints will swell up, the inflammation will lead to heat in the joint and it may become red. It often hurts when using the joint and it will feel stiff. Worst stiffness is usually in the morning.

Different types of juvenile rheumatiod arthritis

Oligoarticulary JRA (affecting few joints)

This is the most common form of JRA (juvenile rheumatioid arthritus). Around 50% of all cases will be this form. It affects the major joints such as the knee, ankles, wrists. Even the jaw and neck can be affected by this inflammation. The eyes can also be affected by oligoarticulary JRA, often without any clear signs showing. This inflammation in the iris can lead to irreversible eye damage and it is therefore important with regular eye examinations performed by qualified doctors.

The oligoarticulary type of JRA is the form that has the best prognosis with the smallest risk of later loss of functionality.

Polyarticulary JRA (affecting many joints)

About 40% of all occurencies of JRA is of the polyarticulary rheumatory arthritis type. The condition is classified as polyarticulary if five or more joints are affected. The inflammation often starts in the major joints such as knees, wrists, elbows etc but after some time, the inflammation will continue over to the minor joints in toes and fingers. This type is more common in girls and will typically show up very early, often before the age of six.

Systemic JRA (juvenile rheumatory arthritis)

The systemic JRA is also called Stills disease from the British pediatrician. Around 10% of all JRA is this version of the disease. It starts with high temperature, enlarged lymphatic nodes and sometimes very small pink rashes on the belly, thighs and arms. After the acute phase, there is usually a development towards the polyarticulary type.

Other types of JRA

There are other forms of JRA, resembling the adult types such as psoratic (psoriatric, psoriatic) arthritis, Bechterews disease and inflammation in joints following inflammatory bowel diseases. There are further types such as vasculitis, SLE, dermatomycitis which may in rare cases affect children. 

Diagnosing JRA (juvenile rheumatoid arthritis)

The diagnosis or juvenile rheumatory arthritis can be made if the arthritis has been present in more than three months and no other cause of the inflammation has been found.