InfoBarrel > Health > Diseases & Conditions

Watch Out for Juvenile Rhumatoid Arthritis Symptoms

KimA |

0 Comments | Rating: 0 | |

Most people probably don't realize that there are more than one hundred distinct forms of arthritis. You also might find it surprising to learn that it's not only adults who might have to deal with this condition; children also suffer from it. Juvenile rhumatoid arthritis (JRA) is the name of this disease when it's found in children. Arthritis in children has many of the same symptoms as those experienced by adults. Yet there are some notable differences that any parent should want to know more about.

Young people who experience juvenile rhumatoid arthritis symptoms generally have inflammation of the joints for a period of six weeks. This is actually a common form of the disease that manifests just about as often as does adult onset arthritis. Indeed, fully one quarter of the population will eventually suffer from one kind of arthritis or another.

Because of its complex nature, JRA, if not medically addressed, can be deadly. Children can suffer from a number of forms of this condition. These are based upon the specific parts of the body that are affected as well as the symptoms.

The most common juvenile rhumatoid arthritis symptoms are swollen joints together with pain and stiffness. Swelling of the joints or bones and crippling pain may also be experienced. Physical activity can lead to an increase in the severity of this symptom. Even though the swelling might be easily visible to the eye, the pain and stiffness might not be. The swollen joint will appear red and will be tender to the touch. Children may suffer a variety of symptoms in the afflicted joint, from stiffness, to limited mobility, to no motion at all.

Two other possible symptoms of JRA are rash and fever. The fever associated with this disease is quite elevated, and it might simply go away on its own. But if these symptoms continue, you can be certain it's not just a normal cold or flu bug. They will continue to come back time and time again instead of just staying for a short period of time and then going away. The rash that your child may experience is light pink in color and may show up and then disappear at any time.

Eye inflammation often occurs in children who suffer from JRA. The symptoms include swelling and reddening of the eyes particularly around the iris. This is a highly distinctive symptom that is unique to juvenile arthritis, so you're not likely to attribute it to another medical condition. Blindness may be the ultimate condition for children who have this symptom, which is typically associated with pauciarticular JRA, which doesn't show any other early signs.

Children suffering from these juvenile rhumatoid arthritis symptoms need immediate medical attention. If the problem is JRA, it won't just go away on its own. Your doctor will be able to advise you of the best way to get arthritis pain relief for your child.