More About Juvenile Arthritis and Other Types of Inflammatory Disease

Juvenile arthritis may appear like a simple unexplainable rash, a spiking fever or a swollen knuckle but no matter what kind of arthritis-related symptoms emerge; arthritis and other types of inflammatory disease for kids can be most unwelcome, confusing and unexpected.

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, JRA or simple juvenile arthritis is a type of inflammatory disease that approximately affects 50,000 children in the United States. It is a chronic disease that damages and gradually destroys the joints of the body. The damage is caused by inflammation - a normal response of the body's immune system. Since arthritis means "joint inflammation", it belongs to the family of inflammatory diseases.

Juvenile arthritis is characterized by pain, swelling and heat. Many children have some sort of arthritis. This can be short-term or long-term. Some types of arthritis can even last a lifetime. The cause of juvenile arthritis implies the loss of the white blood cells' ability to define the difference between the body's healthy cells and the disease-causing invaders like viruses as well as bacteria. The immune system, a supposed protector of the body from bad germs, releases chemicals that can also damage healthy tissues. This can cause pain and other inflammatory diseases.

Juvenile arthritis typically appears between the ages of 6 months and 16 years. The early signs are often swelling and pain in the joints or joints that are warm and somehow reddened. Elbows, knees, shoulders and hips are most likely to be affected. Children with juvenile arthritis can develop eye problems and are at a higher risk of developing adult forms of arthritis.

Frequent treatment of inflammatory diseases with anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen can have side effects. This includes pain, irritation and bleeding in the upper intestines as well as the stomach. Even the kidneys and the liver can be affected. This means, frequent screening must be done on patients undergoing treatments to avoid these side effects.

The cause of juvenile arthritis is still yet to be proven and so are ways to prevent it. However, there are care methods that can alleviate the illness and prevent complications, especially for those who have it already. It is important to take care of your child if he has or he is suspected of having juvenile arthritis. See to it that he takes the medicine prescribed to him. He should not overdo strenuous activities. It is also good to apply heat or warm compress to stiff or inflamed joints but make sure they're not so hot that that can already damage your child's skin.

Though juvenile arthritis may last for years, children with this condition have good chances of still living a normal life. They can get well without any serious, permanent disabilities. They can still keep up with school and social activities. Nevertheless, parents should be aware that this can also lead to complications and long-term consequences. While there are no simple and fast solutions to inflammatory diseases, you can still coordinate closely with your doctor or medical professionals for proper management of the disease.