Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis or JRA is essentially rheumatoid arthritis in individuals younger than 16 years old. However, due to the fact that children have less developed immune systems, they cannot get exactly the same rheumatoid arthritis treatment that is provided to adult patients and require a more fragile approach. Also, the long-term prognosis for patients with JRA is often much better than for adult RA sufferers since the disease often goes into remission before their adult years with no serious aftermath.
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, like the grownup version, is conjectured in order to fall under the disease category of autoimmunity.
Autoimmune diseases are characterized by the body "turning on itself" and attacking its own tissue, mistaking them for pathogens that need to be destroyed.
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis can belong in one of several designations:
Pauciarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is a form that impacts a couple of important joints. Ankle, hip and knee joints are the most typical sites.
Polyarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis affects several important joints both small and big and has the possibility to develop in to full-fledged RA.
The Systemic form may involve irritation of the joints, growth and development of a rash and/or a fever and is the least often observed form of JRA.
Other health issues may trigger JRA-like symptoms like a bone fragments infection, lyme disease, IFB (inflammatory bowel disease) and many others.
Like adult RA, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis has several characteristic symptoms:
Stiff joints, particularly on getting out of bed in the mornings
Painful and/or swollen joints
Reduced flexibility and rotation
Joints which are warm to touch and also at times a red color may be observed
Back discomfort
Limping or reduced utilization of extremities
In systemic cases, several additional symptoms may be noticed:
Fevers
Swelling from the lymph nodes (it should be noted that this symptom is characteristic of many diseases because the the lymphatic system accounts for immunity in the body and a perceived threat activates an immune response that can be seen in swollen lymph nodes. For this reason a doctor always palpates (feels with fingers) the neck in a regular checkup.
Growth and development of a rash
As with adult RA, other tissues and organs can become involved in the illness process including the eye, liver, spleen, etc.
JRA Diagnosis
JRA diagnosis involves testing for rheumatoid factor (even though an adverse on this check does not necessarily mean the patient does not have JRA). Blood counts might be taken too although a lot of JRA patients experience absolutely no significant alteration within blood counts.
Synovial fluid might be extracted from an especially painful joint as well as examined. This depleting also serves the objective of alleviating pain.
In order to make an absolute diagnosis, many tests might be conducted.
JRA Treatment
Following rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis inside a teenager, mild cases with minimal joint involvement symptoms can often be tamed with over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications. Individuals with more serious JRA are sometimes recommended systemic anti-inflammatories that, whilst effective, can have a few serious side effects. This is of special problem since pediatric medication, by definition, must consider the weaker defense mechanisms associated with patients, specially when they're already immunocompromised by disease.
Generally, JRA patients should exercise regularly, get plenty of sunlight (or health supplement with Vitamin D-3 although with lower dosages than adults), eat correctly (including avoiding inflammatory agents such as whole wheat and in some cases dairy) and introduce a program of high-quality fish oil supplements to curb wide spread inflammation.
JRA Prognosis
Although some JRA patients develop full-blown RA, numerous see resolution of the illness before their adult years.
Some joint deformities may be carried into adult life by patients of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis but the extent is usually minimal.
Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis or JRA is essentially rheumatoid arthritis in individuals younger than 16 years old. However, due to the fact that children have less developed immune systems, they cannot get exactly the same rheumatoid arthritis treatment that is provided to adult patients and require a more fragile approach. Also, the long-term prognosis for patients with JRA is often much better than for adult RA sufferers since the disease often goes into remission before their adult years with no serious aftermath.
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, like the grownup version, is conjectured in order to fall under the disease category of autoimmunity.
Autoimmune diseases are characterized by the body "turning on itself" and attacking its own tissue, mistaking them for pathogens that need to be destroyed.
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis can belong in one of several designations:
Pauciarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is a form that impacts a couple of important joints. Ankle, hip and knee joints are the most typical sites.
Polyarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis affects several important joints both small and big and has the possibility to develop in to full-fledged RA.
The Systemic form may involve irritation of the joints, growth and development of a rash and/or a fever and is the least often observed form of JRA.
Other health issues may trigger JRA-like symptoms like a bone fragments infection, lyme disease, IFB (inflammatory bowel disease) and many others.
Like adult RA, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis has several characteristic symptoms:
Stiff joints, particularly on getting out of bed in the mornings
Painful and/or swollen joints
Reduced flexibility and rotation
Joints which are warm to touch and also at times a red color may be observed
Back discomfort
Limping or reduced utilization of extremities
In systemic cases, several additional symptoms may be noticed:
Fevers
Swelling from the lymph nodes (it should be noted that this symptom is characteristic of many diseases because the the lymphatic system accounts for immunity in the body and a perceived threat activates an immune response that can be seen in swollen lymph nodes. For this reason a doctor always palpates (feels with fingers) the neck in a regular checkup.
Growth and development of a rash
As with adult RA, other tissues and organs can become involved in the illness process including the eye, liver, spleen, etc.
JRA Diagnosis
JRA diagnosis involves testing for rheumatoid factor (even though an adverse on this check does not necessarily mean the patient does not have JRA). Blood counts might be taken too although a lot of JRA patients experience absolutely no significant alteration within blood counts.
Synovial fluid might be extracted from an especially painful joint as well as examined. This depleting also serves the objective of alleviating pain.
In order to make an absolute diagnosis, many tests might be conducted.
JRA Treatment
Following rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis inside a teenager, mild cases with minimal joint involvement symptoms can often be tamed with over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications. Individuals with more serious JRA are sometimes recommended systemic anti-inflammatories that, whilst effective, can have a few serious side effects. This is of special problem since pediatric medication, by definition, must consider the weaker defense mechanisms associated with patients, specially when they're already immunocompromised by disease.
Generally, JRA patients should exercise regularly, get plenty of sunlight (or health supplement with Vitamin D-3 although with lower dosages than adults), eat correctly (including avoiding inflammatory agents such as whole wheat and in some cases dairy) and introduce a program of high-quality fish oil supplements to curb wide spread inflammation.
JRA Prognosis
Although some JRA patients develop full-blown RA, numerous see resolution of the illness before their adult years.
Some joint deformities may be carried into adult life by patients of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis but the extent is usually minimal.