subtypes, but inflammation is present.
JIA symptoms may also come and go. If your child experiences periods of lots of inflammation and worsening symptoms, they are called flares. A flare can last for days or months.
Complications
If JIA inflammation goes unchecked, it can damage the lining that covers the ends of bones in a joint (cartilage), and the bones themselves.
JIA can also cause the following complications:
- Eyes. Dryness, pain, redness, sensitivity to light and trouble seeing properly caused by uveitis (chronic eye inflammation). This complication is most common in children with oligoarthritis.
- Bones. Chronic inflammation and use of corticosteroids may cause growth delay in some children with JIA. Their bones may get thinner and break more easily (osteoporosis).
- Mouth/Jaw. Difficulty chewing, brushing or flossing. More than half of children with JIA have jaw involvement.
- Neck. Inflammation of the cervical spine can cause neck pain or stiffness. Swollen neck glands could also signal an infection for kids with SJIA or who are taking immunosuppressing drugs.
- Ankles/feet. Foot pain and difficulty walking is more common in children with polyarthritis and enthesitis-related arthritis.
- Skin. Symptoms can range from a faint salmon-colored rash (SJIA) to a red, scaly rash (psoriatic arthritis).
- Lungs. Inflammation and scarring that can lead to shortness of breath and lung disease. May occur in SJIA.
- Heart. Inflammation may cause damage to the heart muscle. This may occur in children with SJIA.
- Digestive Tract. Abdominal pain and diarrhea is more common in children with spine arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis.
- Reproductive organs. Late-onset of puberty. Certain drugs such as cyclophosphamide could potentially lead to fertility problems later.
- Weight loss or gain. Due to changes in appetite, jaw involvement or difficulty exercising. If your child is overweight, they may be putting extra stress on their joints.
Keeping your child’s inflammation under control and managing the disease can prevent damage and complications from these health effects.
Diagnosis
According to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), a child must have inflammation in one or more joints that lasts at least six weeks, be under 16 years old and have all other conditions ruled out before being diagnosed with JIA.
A pediatrician may be the first doctor to start figuring out what’s causing symptoms. It’s likely that parents will be referred to a rheumatologist (a doctor with specialized training in treating arthritis). Some rheumatologists only treat children, while others only treat adults and some of them treat both. A medical history, physical examination and blood tests will help doctors make the correct diagnosis.
Treatment
Although there is no cure for JIA, your child may enter a period of remission (little or no disease activity or symptoms). Early aggressive treatment is key to getting the disease under control as quickly as possible.
Treatment for JIA varies depending on your child’s disease type and severity. A well-rounded plan includes medication, complementary therapies and healthy lifestyle habits.
No matter what treatments your child’s doctor prescribes, the ultimate goal will be to:
- Slow down or stop inflammation.
- Relieve symptoms, control pain and improve quality of life.
- Prevent joint and organ damage.
- Preserve joint function and mobility.
- Reduce long-term health effects.
- Achieve remission (little or no disease activity or symptoms).