Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is a form of arthritis that affects children below the age of 17. It is known to cause an inflammation and tenderness of the muscles, tendons, bones, joints and nerves. Around 285,000 children in the USA suffer from some type of arthritis. Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is the most widespread type of arthritis that affects children and is usually detected between the ages of 2 and 16.Symptoms of this disease may appear and reappear periodically. JRA typically affects the joints and the tissues surrounding it. However, it can also affect other organs of the body like the heart, eyes, liver and lungs. In some cases, this form of juvenile arthritis is known to cause serious joint damage and stunted growth.
A visit to the pediatrician or family doctor may go a long way in diagnosing the presence of JRA in children. In case a child shows signs of JRA, a visit to a rheumatologist is imperative. The diagnosis of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis more often than not starts with a review of the patient’s medical history and a physical examination. Blood tests may be conducted to help determine the degree of inflammation and damage to the tissues. These tests may include an erythrocyte sedimentation rate test. Also known as sed tests, such a blood test will help in determining the type of JRA. Another type of a blood test looks for antibodies in the blood of the patient. The presence of anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) and rheumatoid factor in blood helps the doctor in pinpointing the exact type of arthritis. Anti-nuclear antibodies are proteins normally produced by the immune systems of people with specific autoimmune diseases like arthritis. Rheumatoid factor is an antibody that is usually found in the blood of people who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis. In many children suffering from JRA, no significant irregularity will be found in these typical blood tests.
Diagnosis of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis also entails a complete imaging procedure. X-rays are taken in order to exclude other conditions, such as congenital diseases, fractures, tumors and infections. X-rays may also be used on a periodic basis after the complete diagnosis to monitor the development of the bones and to detect joint damage. Doctors may also remove the synovial fluid from the affected joints. This in addition to acting as a pain reliever will also allow the doctor to identify the type and cause of arthritis.
