Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: A guide for all parents

 

When we talk about medical conditions like arthritis, the first image that comes in your mind is that of an elderly person. While most of the people think that arthritis is an age-induced problem, the fact is that arthritis can affect people of any age group as the condition is not merely triggered by age-related wear and tear and can be a result of many other factors. It is pertinent to understand that even small children can develop arthritis. Formerly known as Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, the condition is now referred to as Juvenile idiopathic arthritis and is most likely to affect children below 16 years of age.

Children suffering from Juvenile idiopathic arthritis complain of persistent joint pain, which is often mistaken for growth pain. This may often be accompanied by inflammation, swelling and stiffness which may last for weeks, months or even years. In some cases, it can even give rise to serious eye problems. Treatment for Juvenile idiopathic Arthritis is offered at all the leading orthopaedics treatment hospitals in India.

Symptoms all parents need to look out for:

• There is a list of some common signs and symptoms associated with Juvenile idiopathic arthritis:
•  Your child may complain of persistent pain without any evident reason
• Your child may limp after sitting or sleeping in the same position for hours
• There may be evident swelling in your child's joints
• Your child may experience joint stiffness especially in the morning
• Very high fever accompanied by swollen lymph nodes and rashes

It is important to understand that the condition can affect a single joint, or multiple joints of the body which means that the pain might not be localised. Juvenile idiopathic Arthritis can be further classified into several subtypes the most common of which are: Systemic Juvenile idiopathic arthritis

• Oligoarticular Juvenile idiopathic arthritis
• Polyarticular Juvenile idiopathic arthritis

What triggers Juvenile idiopathic arthritis?

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis is an autoimmune disease which means that it is triggered when a child's immune system starts attacking the cells and tissues present in his/her body. The best doctors in India suggest that if the condition is left untreated for long, it can give rise to serious complications which include:

Eye problems - Juvenile idiopathic Arthritis can lead to severe eye inflammation and even increase the risks of cataract and glaucoma. In extreme cases, it can lead to partial or complete blindness. You can keep the problem under check by regular eye check-ups.

     Growth abnormality - Juvenile idiopathic arthritis interferes with normal bone development and affects your child growth. It is not only the condition but medication taken for it, that can inhibit growth.

How is the condition diagnosed?

Doctors specialising in Orthopaedics and knee replacement in India use the following diagnostic modalities and techniques for or detecting and assessing Juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Blood tests to assess the ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate), C-reactive protein, antinuclear antibody, Rheumatoid factor and CCP (salicylic citrullinated peptide). It is, however, important to know that some children with Juvenile idiopathic arthritis might not show any abnormality in the blood tests.

Doctors may also recommend imaging modalities like X-rays or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) to rule out other musculoskeletal conditions like fractures, tumours, congenital defects etc.

Is there any treatment available?

The primary aim of the treatment is to help your child level normal life by relieving the associated symptoms and preventing the condition from progressing. Juvenile idiopathic Arthritis is usually managed with the help of medication which includes nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), biologic response modifiers and corticosteroids. All these help with alleviating pain and inflammation and are often combined with therapies for better results. Surgery is recommended in extreme cases so as to improve joint function and mobility. The type of treatment depends upon the overall health evaluation of the child as well as the proper assessment of his/her condition.