Juvenile Arthritis

 I just wanted parents to be aware of this disease. It affects one child in one thousand and there are many different types. Some of them are Rhumatoide Arthritis, Polly Inflamatory arthritis, Polly Articulated arthritis and Scholli Derma.                        

  I know more about Rhumatoide and Polly Articulated Arthritis as these are the types that I have had to deal with most.         All types of juvenile arthritis are called Auto-immune Diseases because unlike the adult form of austio Arthritis which is caused by wear and tear Juvenile arthritis is the childs own body attacking itself.

 Rhumatoide arthritis is the same as the adult form and children that are born with arthritis have this form. and it is treated in the same way as with adults except in smaller doses. The types of medications used are NSAD (non-steroidal anti-inflamitories) DMD(disease modifying drugs) and Quartico Steroides. They often use a combination of some or all types of the medication and the children are on these medications for the rest of their lives as they don't out grow the dease although sometimes it may go into remission and the children can be pain free at times. It is diagnoised by a blood test and X-rays

Polly Articulated juvenile Arthritis is not as easy to diagnoise as the childs blood tests are usually normal but with a slightly elevated white cell count which is the same as if they have an infection but there is no fever. The symptoms include joint pain and swelling usually on both sides of the body so if one knee is sore so is the other. A lot of doctors don't diagnoise this type of Arthritis untill there is irreversible damage done to one or more of the joints and a lot of the time they call it a soft tissue injury. But if your child is complaining of stiff sore joints in the mornings or you are constantly being told that the child has a soft tissue injury and you know that they have not fallen or bumped themselves hard then it is probably best to ask for a referal to a Pedriactric Rhumatologist or a Peaditrition for a full examination. This type of arthritis affects more than five joints in the children. It is treated by the same type of medication as Rhumatoide Arthritis and 70% of the children diagnosed with this type of Arthritis will grow out of it the other 30% will go on to develope the Adult form of Rhumatiode Arthritis.

I know that this was a long article but it is worth the read as if more people are informed about the disease then the kids won't feel like people think that they are telling tales and making excuses for not participating with their peers. As these kids don't look like they have a medical condition a lot of adults and teachers don't understand the pain and suffering that these kids put up with every day.