Childhood arthritis is diagnosed through a physical examination and review of symptoms, X-rays, and lab tests. A doctor should make this diagnosis, particularly a rheumatologist who specializes in arthritis and other related conditions in children.
What can be mistaken for juvenile arthritis?
JIA can be mistaken for growing pains or an injury, and understandably, parents may wait it out to see if it gets better. Kids may have swollen joints, sore wrists or knees, and stiffness.
How does juvenile arthritis start?
Systemic JIA usually starts with fever and rash that come and go over the span of at least 2 weeks. In many cases, the joints become inflamed, but sometimes not until long after the fever goes away, and sometimes not at all if treatment is started quickly.
Can I test myself for arthritis?
At-home tests are available that analyze several substances related to rheumatoid arthritis. However, it’s important to understand that at-home testing is not a substitute for medical care from a doctor or specialist and cannot diagnose RA.
How do I know if I have juvenile arthritis Related Questions
Can juvenile arthritis go away?
JIA is a chronic condition, meaning it can last for months and years. Sometimes the symptoms just go away with treatment, which is known as remission. Remission may last for months, years, or a person’s lifetime. In fact, many teens with JIA eventually enter full remission with little or no permanent joint damage.
At what age does arthritis start to show?
It most commonly starts among people between the ages of 40 and 60. It’s more common in women than men. There are drugs that can slow down an over-active immune system and therefore reduce the pain and swelling in joints. These are called disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and include biological therapies.
Can juvenile arthritis go away without treatment?
Unlike adult rheumatoid arthritis, which is ongoing (chronic) and lasts a lifetime, children often outgrow JIA. But the disease can affect bone development in a growing child.
How to tell the difference between growing pains and juvenile arthritis?
Growing pains strike late in the day, and the pain can be intense enough to wake children in the middle of the night. Kids with JIA experience the opposite: They feel worst in the morning, and experience a period of stiffness that can cause difficulty walking and make them appear clumsy.
What does juvenile arthritis feel like?
The most common signs and symptoms of juvenile idiopathic arthritis are: Pain. While your child might not complain of joint pain, you may notice that he or she limps — especially first thing in the morning or after a nap. Swelling.
How long do kids with juvenile arthritis live?
Juvenile arthritis (JA) has a high mortality rate and life expectancy for people with the condition may be reduced by as much as 10 years. JA is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects about 300,000 children in the United States under the age of 16 and is usually diagnosed at age 11.
Who is at risk for juvenile arthritis?
JIA is the most common autoimmune joint condition in children. It tends to affect children younger than 10 but does not generally affect those younger than 6 months old. Girls are more commonly affected than boys and tend to show symptoms at a younger age.
Where does arthritis first show up?
Usually, the small joints of the fingers and toes are affected first. The most common symptom is stiffness, and it takes a long time to get the joints moving, especially in the morning.
What are the 3 initial symptoms of arthritis?
Depending on the type of arthritis, signs and symptoms may include: Pain. Stiffness. Swelling.
What are 5 symptoms of arthritis?
The main arthritis symptoms include joint pain/tenderness, joint stiffness, joint swelling, joint redness/warmth, limited joint movement/decreased range of motion or flexibility in the joints.
How do you confirm arthritis?
X-ray. X-rays may show joint changes and bone damage found in some types of arthritis. Ultrasound. Ultrasound uses sound waves (not radiation) to see the quality of synovial tissue, tendons, ligaments, and bones. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Arthroscopy.
How can I treat juvenile arthritis at home?
Low-impact exercises, such as swimming, walking and stretching, are typically well-tolerated. Cold packs, hot packs, or a hot bath/shower can help reduce symptoms of JIA. Heat works best to relieve stiff joints and tired muscles, especially first thing in the morning. Cold numbs painful areas and reduces inflammation.
Does juvenile arthritis spread?
Some children will have only one joint affected throughout the entire course of their JIA. Other children will start with one joint and it will spread to affect several additional joints or perhaps even spread to involve large and small joints. In some patients the disease remains mild and easy to control.
Does juvenile arthritis show up on xray?
Imaging in patients with JIA has historically relied on radiography, which allows the accurate assessment of chronic changes of JIA, including growth disturbances, periostitis, and joint malalignment.
What triggers arthritis?
The most common triggers of an OA flare are overdoing an activity or trauma to the joint. Other triggers can include bone spurs, stress, repetitive motions, cold weather, a change in barometric pressure, an infection or weight gain. Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an inflammatory disease that affects the skin and joints.
Does arthritis hurt all the time?
Pain from arthritis can be constant or it may come and go. It may occur when at rest or while moving. Pain may be in one part of the body or in many different parts. Some types of arthritis cause the skin over the affected joint to become red and swollen, feeling warm to the touch.