A disease of the joints similar to adult rheumatoid arthritis except that it occurs in joints that are undergoing growth.
Arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the joints and is a general term that refers to more than 100 rheumatic diseases. The most common type of arthritis in children is called juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) in the United States and is known as juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA) in Europe. Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder, which means that the body mistakenly identifies some of its own cells and tissues as foreign. The disorder is defined as arthritis that causes joint inflammation and stiffness for more than 6 weeks in a child of 16 years of age or less. Inflammation causes redness, swelling, warmth, and soreness in the joints. Any joint may be affected, and inflammation may limit the mobility of the affected joints.
An inflammatory disease of children that affects the joints of the fingers, wrists, feet, and sometimes other areas; also known as Still’s disease. The joints become swollen, painful, and difficult to move. While rheumatoid arthritis is usually a long-term condition in adults, many children outgrow it.
A disease that can cause chronic inflammation of a child’s joints and internal organs. Also known as JRA, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis most commonly begins between ages 2 and 5 or 9 and 12. It is unusual for symptoms to appear before age 1 or after age 16. The disease is more common in girls than in boys.
A group of chronic, inflammatory diseases involving the joints and other organs in children under age 16. The age of onset is variable, as are the extra-articular manifestations. JRA affects about 1 in 1000 children (150,000 to 250,000 in the US alone) with overall incidence twice as high in females and is the most common form of arthritis in childhood. At least five subgroups are recognized.