Ayurvedic Care Of Childhood Arthritis
About Childhood Arthritis
Juvenile Idiopathic arthritis is the most common form of arthritis, mostly occur in children under the age of 16. It is an autoimmune disease which means the immune system attacks the body insted of protecting it.
This arthritis can cause persistent joint pain, inflammation and stiffness of the synovium. The synovium is the tissue that lines the inside of joints. Some types of juvenile idiopathic arthritis can cause serious complications, such as growth problems, joint damage and eye inflammation. Juvenile arthritis affects nearly 300,000 children in the United States.
Types of Juvenile Arthritis
There are few type of Juvenile Arthritis:
- Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Considered the most common form of arthritis, JIA includes six subtypes: oligoarthritis, polyarthritis, systemic, enthesitis-related, juvenile psoriatic arthritis or undifferentiated
- Juvenile dermatomyositis. An inflammatory disease, juvenile dermatomyositis causes muscle weakness and a skin rash on the eyelids and knuckles.
- Juvenile lupus. Lupus is an autoimmune disease. The most common form is systemic lupus erythematosus, or SLE. Lupus can affect the joints, skin, kidneys, blood and other areas of the body.
- Juvenile scleroderma. Scleroderma, which literally means “hard skin,” describes a group of conditions that causes the skin to tighten and harden.
Causes of Childhood Arthritis
There is no specific reason for juvenile arthritis. juvenile arthritis mostly occur when the body’s immune system attacks its own cells and tissues. In rare cases (such as in psoriatic arthritis or enthesitis-related arthritis) a parent has the same form of arthritis. Dietary and emotional factors do not appear to play a role in the development of JIA.
Symptoms Of Childhood Arthritis
The most common symptoms of juvenile arthritis include:
- Painful joints in the morning that improve by afternoon. Sometimes, the first sign of the disease is a morning limp, caused by an affected knee. Hands and feet may also be affected.
- Joint swelling is common but is often first noticed in larger joints such as the knee.
- Joints may become inflamed and warm to the touch. In fewer than half of cases of juvenile arthritis, internal organs may become inflamed. Muscles and other soft tissues around the joint may weaken.
- Fever, swollen lymph nodes and rash. In some cases, high fever, swollen lymph nodes or a rash on the trunk may occur — which is usually worse in the evenings.
- In certain cases, children have a high fever and light pink rash, which may disappear very quickly.
- Some children develop growth problems. Joints may grow too fast or too slowly, unevenly, or to one side. This can make one leg or arm longer than the other. Overall growth also may slow.
Complications Of Childhood Arthritis
Several serious complications can result from juvenile idiopathic arthritis. But keeping a careful watch on your child’s condition and seeking appropriate medical attention can greatly reduce the risk of these complications:
- Eye problems. Some forms can cause eye inflammation (uveitis). If this condition is left untreated, it may result in cataracts, glaucoma and even blindness. Eye inflammation frequently occurs without symptoms, so it’s important for children with this condition to be examined regularly by an ophthalmologist.
- Growth problems. Juvenile idiopathic arthritis can interfere with your child’s growth and bone development. Some medications used for treatment, mainly corticosteroids, also can inhibit growth.
How is Childhood Arthritis Diagnosed?
Childhood Arthritis may be hard to diagnose because at first there is no Symptoms such as pain or joint swelling. Blood test aslo can not diagnose the condition. Adults with rheumatoid arthritis typically have a positive rheumatoid factor blood test, but children with JIA typically have a negative rheumatoid factor blood test. As a result, diagnosis of JIA depends on physical findings, medical history, and the exclusion of other diagnoses.
