What Is Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis?

When most people think of arthritis, they think it’s a condition they don’t have to worry about until later in life. However, that’s not the case. Hundreds of thousands of kids and teens in the U.S. are suffering from juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).

“Juvenile idiopathic arthritis isn’t a specific disease, but rather an umbrella term to describe a group of autoimmune diseases that develop in children under the age of 16,” says pediatric rheumatologist April Bingham, MD, Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital. “In these conditions, the immune system, which is supposed to fight against foreign invaders like viruses and bacteria, instead releases inflammatory chemicals that attack healthy tissue.”

In addition to causing joint pain and swelling, some types of JIA also cause rashes or other organ involvement. The symptoms of JIA can significantly affect a child’s ability to participate in activities they enjoy.

The exact causes of JIA are unknown. While a small percentage of JIA cases have been reported to run in families, most cases are sporadic, occurring in children with no history of the disorder in their family. Researchers believe that certain genes may cause JIA when activated by a virus, bacteria or other external factors. There is no evidence that foods, toxins, allergies or lack of vitamins cause the disease.

The symptoms a child experiences depends on the type of JIA they have. It may affect their:

• Joints: It may cause their joints to look red or swollen and feel warm to touch. The child may report joint pain and stiffness, and/or may have difficulty moving or completing everyday tasks. Joint symptoms are often worse when waking up in the morning or after staying in one position too long such as a long car ride.
• Skin: This can include a scaly red rash (psoriatic JIA) or light spotted pink rash (systemic JIA).
• Eyes: They may experience pain, redness, sensitivity to light, and trouble seeing properly caused by uveitis (chronic eye inflammation).
• Internal organs: Some forms of JIA affect internal organs such as the lungs, causing shortness of breath.
• Other symptoms: This can include fatigue (feeling extremely tired or rundown), appetite loss and a high-spiking fever.

There is no cure for JIA, but with early diagnosis and aggressive treatment, remission (little or no disease activity or symptoms) is possible. The goals of JIA treatment are to:

• Slow down or stop inflammation and prevent disease progression.
• Relieve symptoms, control pain and improve quality of life.
• Prevent or avoid joint and organ damage.
• Preserve joint function and mobility for adulthood.
• Reduce long-term health effects.

“Knowing what’s causing your child’s symptoms is the first step to finding relief,” says Dr. Bingham. “Once we have a precise diagnosis, we can tailor treatment to target your child’s symptoms, needs and disease process.”

Treatment may include:

• Medication to relieve symptoms and alter the disease process.
• Physical therapy exercises to improve range of motion and strengthen muscles.
• Occupational therapy to identify ways to perform daily tasks with ease.
• A diet that supports nutritional goals.

At Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital, our pediatric rheumatology team’s mission is to ensure all your child’s physical and emotional needs are addressed sufficiently. For some children that requires consulting with other pediatric specialists to help your child achieve maximum symptom relief and best possible outcomes.

Your care team may include:

• Pediatric gastroenterologists (doctors who care for problems related to the digestive tract)
• Pediatric ophthalmologists (eye doctors)
• Orthopedic surgeons
• Rehabilitation specialists
• Nutrition professionals
• Mental health professionals