Is there A Cure For Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis?

Do you remember hearing the older generation complain about aches and pains in their body and then mention the weather forecast? They would simply refer to knee pain or achy joints as incoming rain and then like clockwork; it would rain. I would say to myself granny predicts the weather better than the meteorologist on the local news.

Most of our elders say they were dealing with arthritis issues but you wouldn’t think that children would also encounter similar health conditions. When you hear your child complaining about neck, back, and knee issues, in most cases you would believe they’ve encountered some type of injury from playing outdoors with friends but not onset arthritis.

Arthritis in children sounds unbelievable, right? Well, actually Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) is the most common arthritis in kids and this condition causes joint pain and inflammation within the body.

READ: Is Your Child Dealing With Joint Pain? Here’s How you Can Help

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JIA affects the hands, knees, wrists, elbows, ankles and other areas. Did you know that 60% of children with JIA have oligoarthritis and are mostly girls? And 10% of children with JIA have systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (SJIA) which affects boys and girls equally.

Studies also show, according to the Arthritis Foundation, that 25% of children develop uveitis, a form of inflammation of the eye within four years after the diagnosis of this disease.

When a child develops JIA within the body, the immune system attempts to fight off the bad germs but instead, it attacks the body’s tissues and cells.

Inflammation chemicals immediately start to attack the tissue lining around the joint and form fluid that provides a cushion to help the joints move smoothly. If this happens, your child’s joints may look red or swollen and they may complain that it hurts to move.

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Here are some of the symptoms you need to be on the lookout for JIA:

1. High fever joint pain or stiffness; this may get worse if you sit too long in one position, 
2. Tender, red or swollen joints. The inflammation could cause the bones to become weak making it susceptible to break easily.
3. Sensitivity to light, blurry vision or dry eyes. This is more common with oligoarthritis. 
4. Appetite loss due to jaw involvement, which makes it difficult to chew or brush your teeth.
5. Scaly rash, which is usually associated with psoriatic arthritis.
6. Inflammation in the neck, heart, and lungs, which usually occurs in systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (SJIA), a disease that affects the whole body. 

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According to the Arthritis Foundation, JIA used to be called juvenile rheumatoid arthritis because it was once believed to be the kid version of the adult disease but the term “juvenile arthritis” refers to the joint conditions that affect children including JIA.

Why do children develop JIA? 

The cause of this autoimmune/autoinflammatory disease is unknown at this time and researchers say they believe JIA is activated in children who have certain genes, bacteria, or other external factors.

However, studies indicate the lack of vitamins, toxins, foods or allergies do not cause JIA. The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) says in order for a child to be diagnosed with JIA, your child must be under the age of 16, have inflammation in one or more joints lasting at least six weeks and have all other medical conditions ruled out before its affirmed your child has JIA. 

If you believe your child is showing signs of JIA, consult with your pediatrician. It's possible you will be referred to a rheumatologist who will perform a blood test, look at your child’s medical history and look for joint tenderness, swellings, test the range of movement of the joints and check their eyes and skin.

Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis is not curable at this time but controlling the inflammation and managing the symptoms is possible to prevent further damage to the body and improve the quality of life.

READ: Does Your Child Have Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis?

The following 10 treatment options are available to help you and your child get the disease under control if early intervention steps are implemented:

TREATMENT OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO INCREASE THE QUALITY OF LIFE

1. You can slow down or stop the inflammation within the body by taking medications such as Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). These drugs work to relieve and suppress the immune system so it doesn’t attack the joints. Methotrexate is the most common medication used for JIA and can be found in pill or injection form.
2. Biologics are drugs that typically work more quickly than DMARDs and target certain inflammation and this too comes in injection form.
3. Over-the-counter medications such as Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and analgesics (pain relievers) can also provide much-needed relief but cannot reverse nor reduce the joint damage caused by arthritis.
4. Surgery can be an option for children whose damaged joints could not be controlled early enough resulting in them being replaced with metal, plastic prosthesis or ceramic parts. In this case, you would need to consult with an orthopedic surgeon to see if surgery is needed for your child.
5. Exercising regularly can help alleviate stiffness and joint pain
6. Physical and Occupational Therapies can help to strengthen, balance and improve their motor skills, teach balance, and help them with the movement of large muscles.
7. Eating healthy foods that reduce inflammation such as fatty fish, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, olive oil and eliminating high-fat and processed foods.
8. Hot and Cold treatments; heating pads and warm baths to soothe joint pain and cold to reduce inflammation.
9. Control and reduce emotional stressors in your child’s life that can bring on depression from dealing with the disease.
10. Taking supplements such as curcumin which is found in turmeric and omega-3 fish oil may help with pain and stiffness. Including vitamin D and calcium within your diet can also help build strong bones but make sure you consult with your child’s pediatrician first before you decide to implement new dietary changes.

Living juvenile arthritis can be challenging for you and your child but it is manageable. Just remember your child can live a fulfilling life if you continue to educate yourself about the disease and modify certain areas in your lifestyle.