Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis disorder is special condition of arthritis in children of age less than 16 years. In this type of arthritis, joint inflammation causes pain and stiffness in bone joints for more than 6 weeks. It is type of rheumatoid arthritis as the signs and the way it affects is same as that of rheumatoid arthritis disorder.

Though researchers are working on finding exact causes of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis disorder, several factors are responsible for development of this disorder. It has been found from the research that, it is an autoimmune diseasing in which, white blood cells lose capacity to differentiate between healthy cells and bacteria and viruses. Therefore, due to weak immune system it releases chemicals that damage healthy issues and cause inflammation and pain. In children, immune system is not fully developed and thus viruses and bacteria affects more quickly. The immune system of the body plays an important role to protect your body from viruses and diseases. Some genetic as well as environmental factors are supposed to be among the prominent causes of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

The development of disease involves three different types of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. These types are derived from the way it affects body, how it further progress and related side effects on body. Different types of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis are pauciarticular JRA, systemic JRA and polyarticular JRA. Polyarticular JRA may involve the multiple joints and the children with positive rheumatoid factor are at a higher risk of this disease. The systemic JRA can cause pain and swelling of joints as well as rash and fever and the exact cause of this type of JRA is not clear.

In case of pauciarticular JRA, the children especially boys, with positive HLA-B27 are likely to susceptible for this disorder. This is the most common types of JRA. It affects large joints like knee and elbow. Pauciarticular JRA occurs early in the age and can further develop in to other type of arthritis. Polyarticular JRA is the next level in JRA that is often related with adult RA. It affects body in symmetrical manner and generally involves small joints like feet, neck and hands. The systemic JRA affects other body organs like liver, lymph nodes, heart and others.

Therefore, recognizing signs and symptoms, finding causes of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and appropriate diagnosis is very important to restrict progression of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis disorder.