Our Battle to Beat Juvenile Arthritis
Many people are unaware that Arthritis can affect children and teenagers. Unfortunately statistics have shown that approximately one in one thousand are affected and some forms of Juvenile arthritis can potentially be very serious. The ignorance of the link between arthritis and children can result in delayed diagnosis with resultant damage to tissue and organs.
Many children who contract Juvenile arthritis do so via a bacterial or viral infection. This form of infection is normally brief, but can last several months. Most children will recover completely. The juvenile version of rheumatoid arthritis can be much more serious, lasting months or even years.
The symptoms of Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis are viewed and classified by how the condition starts. This is where we start our battle to defeat and beat arthritis
Where less than 4 joints are affected the condition is known as Pauciarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
Where four or more joint are involved the condition is known as Polyarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
The third classification type is Systemic-onset juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. This is often the most difficult form to treat. The onset of the condition usually presents with stiff joints along with a rash and fever, very unpleasant for the child.
Where a child wakes up stiff, has a swollen joint that is not the result of a known injury, or limps, the parent needs to be aware that if the situation continues the Doctor should be consulted. The odds are good that Juvenile arthritis will not be the cause, but if the Doctor considers it to be a possibility then an early diagnosis is to the child’s advantage, as with any other disease.
There are millions of people, both as adults or children that carry the genes that may predispose them to arthritis and other diseases, but we are not completely helpless here. Many conditions have to be triggered. There are many different triggers which include bacterial, viral, lack of correct nutrition, lack of exercise and injury. Of these triggers we are well able to be in control of two of the causes, proper nutrition and exercise. If we take care of these two and are aware of the dangers represented by the other symptoms, we are well on our way to beat Juvenile arthritis.
