Symptoms of Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis

Although the exact cause of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is not known, it is theorized to be an autoimmune disorder, meaning the person's own immune system attack will healthy tissues and cells in the joints. This will result in inflammation of those joints. There are three main types of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Pauciartular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis affects four joints or fewer and is the most commonly diagnosed type of the ailment. Polyarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis affects five or more joints--normally smaller joints such as in the feet and hands. Systemic juvenile rheumatoid arthritis can affect a multitude of joints as well as internal organs, and is the rarest form of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

Half of the children that have juvenile rheumatoid arthritis are diagnosed with paiciarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Larger joints such as the ankles, elbows and knees will be affected but the wrists, fingers and toes can sometimes be involved. Eye inflammation known as uveitis is a symptom and can be more serious than the joint pain that accompanies the arthritis. In some instances, the joints can experience a decreased range of motion and they are usually most painful when the child first wakes up in the morning or after a nap.

Polyarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is found more often in girls than it is in boys. It inflames the smaller joints such as those of fingers or toes but it can also involve the knees, ankles, and hips as well as the neck and even the jaw. When a child has a bout of polyarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, they can develop a low fever and bumps on their body where the body comes into contact with objects such as shoes or chairs. In rare cases, the internal organs can become inflamed. A low red blood cell volume called anemia also can be present in those children with polyarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. The inflammation of the eyes is also a problem and can become chronic in some kids. When this arthritis is present in the neck, it can be painful even to turn the head and this form has been known to affect the development of some joints, such as the jaw.

Systemic juvenile rheumatoid arthritis can occur in boys just as often as girls and affects the individual's whole body. High fevers along with frequent rashes mark this malady, with the internal organs becoming inflamed in some children. The joint pain may remain in many cases even after the symptoms that have affected the entire body have gone away for good. The fevers may exceed 103 degrees Fahrenheit and occur daily for weeks and months, raising and falling periodically. Rashes can break out on the thighs and chest and the joint pain can occur weeks after the fevers begin. The linings of the heart and lungs can become inflamed and anemia along with a high white blood cell count can be present. Luckily, this type of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis vanishes in most children after about a year.

Children that limp for seemingly no reason or exhibit signs of joint stiffness and swelling should be taken to see a physician, especially if they have frequent high fevers that seem worse in the afternoon or evenings. A specialist can diagnose juvenile rheumatoid arthritis with a number of tests. Blood tests can reveal certain markers that doctors look for such as specific proteins that indicate arthritis. X-rays may be taken to eliminate the possibility of other causes and fluid can be taken from the joints and examined to help determine what may be the problem.