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Guide to Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA)

From Carol & Richard Eustice,
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Part 1 of 10 - What is Arthritis? What is Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis?

What is Arthritis?

Arthritis means "joint inflammation" and refers to a group of rheumatic diseases that affect the joints. "Arthritis" is often used as a more general term to refer to the more than 100 rheumatic diseases that may affect the joints but can also cause pain, swelling, and stiffness in other supporting structures of the body such as:

  • muscles
  • tendons
  • ligaments
  • bones

Some rheumatic diseases can affect other parts of the body, including various internal organs.

Children can develop almost all types of arthritis that affect adults, but the most common type that affects children is juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA).

What is JRA?

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is 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, although many children with JRA do not complain of joint pain. Any joint can be affected and inflammation may limit the mobility of affected joints. One type of JRA can also affect the internal organs.

Three Types

Doctors classify JRA into three types by the:

  • number of joints involved
  • symptoms
  • presence or absence of certain antibodies found by a blood test
  • These classifications help the doctor determine how the disease will progress and whether the internal organs or skin is affected.

  • Does My Child Have Arthritis?
  • Types

    The main three types of juvenile arthritis are:

  • Pauciarticular JRA
  • Polyarticular JRA
  • Systemic JRA
    1. Part 1 of 10 - What is Arthritis? What is Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis?
    2. Part 2 of 10 - What is Pauciarticular Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis?
    3. Part 3 of 10 - What is Polyarticular Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis?
    4. Part 4 of 10 - What is Systemic Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis?
    5. Part 5 of 10 - What Causes Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis?
    6. Part 6 of 10 - What are the Signs and Symptoms of Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis?
    7. Part 7 of 10 - How is Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnosed?
    8. Part 8 of 10 - Who Treats JRA? What are the Treatment Options for JRA?
    9. Part 9 of 10 - How Can Family Help? Do Children Have to Limit Their Activities?
    10. Part 10 of 10 - What Research is Being Conducted for JRA?

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    Updated: February 26, 2007
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