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July is Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month
Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA)
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a group of disorders that cause arthritis (stiff, swollen, painful joints) in children. Some types are also called juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA).
Depending on the type of JIA, a child may also have problems with the eyes, skin, heart, lungs, and intestines (bowels). Treatments can help with symptoms so children with JIA can live a full and active life. The symptoms can go away for a time (called remission). In some kids, the condition goes away permanently.
What Are the Types of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis?
The types of JIA and their symptoms are:
- Systemic JIA- Children with systemic JIA have arthritis in 1 or more joints. They also have a fever and rash that come and go. They may have swollen lymph nodes and problems with the heart, lungs, and blood.
- Polyarticular JIA- A child with polyarticular JIA has arthritis in 5 or more joints in the first 6 months of disease. They also might have inflammation inside the eye (called uveitis) and other problems.
- Oligoarticular JIA- Children with oligoarticular JIA have arthritis in fewer than 5 joints in the first 6 months of the disease. In some children, more joints become affected after that. They may also have uveitis.
- Enthesitis-Related JIA- Children with enthesitis-related JIA have enthesitis (inflammation where tendons and ligaments connect to bone) and arthritis. They may also have uveitis and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
- Psoriatic JIA- Psoriatic JIA affects children who also have psoriasis (a skin disorder where thick, red plaques grow on the skin) or a close relative with psoriasis. They may also have uveitis, swelling of fingers and toes, and changes in their nails.
- Undifferentiated JIA- Undifferentiated JIA is when someone's symptoms don’t fit into any of the above types or fall into more than one of those types.
JIA is an autoimmune disease. This means that the body’s immune system, which normally attacks germs, mistakenly attacks the joints. This causes inflammation (swelling and irritation) in the joints and other problems. Doctors don’t know exactly why kids and teens get JIA. “Idiopathic” means “from an unknown cause.” It can run in families but often does not. It’s likely due to a combination of:
- Genetic (inherited) causes
- The way the immune system responds to infection and illness
- A trigger such as an infection
JIA is a lifelong disease, but treatments can help ease pain, keep kids active, and prevent long-term joint damage. To help your child:
- Work with your child’s physical therapist to develop a regular exercise program. This will help keep your child’s muscles strong and flexible.
- Learn about JIA with your child. Your care team is a great resource. You can also find information and support online at:
For information about juvenile idiopathic arthritis, visit here.
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