Do children also get arthritis? Causes, symptoms and treatment
People think that the problem of arthritis is seen only in old people. But the truth is that the problem of arthritis can also occur in teenagers and children (small children). Arthritis in children is known as Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, but people do not have much information in this regard. In this article, complete information has been given about arthritis in children, through which you can protect your children from it.
What is Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis?
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common type of arthritis that affects children under the age of 16. Childhood arthritis affects adolescent girls more than boys. Juvenile idiopathic arthritis is a chronic disease that can affect joints in any part of the body.
This childhood arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system mistakenly targets the synovium, the tissue that lines the inside of the joint, and the synovial fluid in the joint. This causes the synovium to produce excess synovial fluid, leading to swelling, pain, and stiffness in the joint.
This process can spread to surrounding tissues, eventually damaging the cartilage and bone. Other areas of the body, especially the eyes, may also be affected by inflammation. If it is not treated, JIA can interfere with a child’s normal growth and development.
How many types of juvenile idiopathic arthritis are there?
Following are the types of arthritis in children, which are classified on the basis of their symptoms and affected joints: –
Oligoarthritis: This type of JIA affects less than five joints, mostly in the knees, ankles, and elbows. It can also cause uveitis, an inflammation of the middle layer of the eye (uva). Uveitis cannot be detected without a dedicated eye examination. About half of all children with JIA have oligoarthritis; It is more common in girls than boys. Many children will outgrow oligoarthritis by adulthood. In some children, it may eventually spread to involve more joints.
Polyarthritis: This type of juvenile idiopathic arthritis affects five or more joints, often a single joint on each side of the body. Polyarthritis can also affect the joints of the neck and jaw and smaller joints, such as those in the hands and feet. It is more common in girls than boys and accounts for 20 percent of JIA patients.
Psoriatic arthritis: This type of arthritis affects children who have arthritis and psoriasis, a rash that causes red spots or skin lesions that are covered with a silvery-white buildup of dead skin cells. Are. Psoriatic arthritis can also cause nail changes that look like dimpling or pitting.
Enthesitis related arthritis:- It is also known as spondyloarthropathy. This type of arthritis often affects the spine, hips and entheses (the points where tendons and ligaments attach to the bones), and occurs mainly in boys over the age of seven. The eyes are often affected in this type of arthritis, and may be painful or red.
Systemic arthritis: Also called Still’s disease, this type occurs in about 10 to 20 percent of children with JIA. A systemic disease is one that can affect the entire body or multiple body systems. In addition to arthritis, systemic JIA usually causes persistent high fever and a rash, which often appears on the torso, arms, and legs as the fever increases. It can also affect internal organs such as the heart, liver, spleen and lymph nodes. This type of juvenile idiopathic arthritis affects boys and girls equally and rarely affects the eyes.
What are the causes of juvenile idiopathic arthritis?
The causes of juvenile idiopathic arthritis are not known. Factors involved, alone or in combination, include genetics (the disease can be inherited), infections, and environmental factors that affect the immune system.
What are the symptoms of juvenile idiopathic arthritis?
Symptoms of arthritis in children may vary depending on its type. Basically, when children have arthritis, the following symptoms are seen: –
What are the risk factors for juvenile idiopathic arthritis?
At present there is no concrete information in this regard. However, juvenile idiopathic arthritis affects girls more than boys.
What complications can occur from juvenile idiopathic arthritis?
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis can cause many serious complications. But by carefully monitoring your child’s condition and seeking appropriate medical help, the risk of the following complications can be significantly reduced:-
Eye problems:- Some forms can cause swelling in the eyes. If this condition is left untreated, it can result in cataracts, glaucoma, and even blindness. Eye inflammation often occurs without symptoms, so it is important for children with this condition to be checked regularly by an ophthalmologist.
Growth problems:- Juvenile idiopathic arthritis can interfere with your child’s growth and bone development. Some medications used for treatment, primarily corticosteroids, may also inhibit growth.
How is Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Diagnosed?
Diagnosing juvenile idiopathic arthritis can be difficult because joint pain can be caused by a variety of problems. No single test can confirm the diagnosis, but tests can help rule out some other conditions that produce similar signs and symptoms. First of all, the doctor will ask for information about your medical history and see if this problem is due to any old problem. You can also ask whether anyone in your family has had arthritis before. According to the information received from you, the doctor may ask you to get the following tests done: –
Blood test
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) :- Sedimentation rate is the speed at which your red blood cells settle to the bottom of a tube of blood. An elevated rate may indicate inflammation. Measuring ESR is mainly used to determine the degree of inflammation.
C-reactive protein:- This blood test also measures general inflammation levels in the body but on a different scale than ESR.
Antinuclear antibody: Antinuclear antibodies are proteins commonly produced by the immune systems of people with certain autoimmune diseases, including arthritis. They are a marker for an increased likelihood of eye inflammation.
Rheumatoid factor: This antibody is sometimes found in the blood of children who have juvenile idiopathic arthritis and may mean they are at greater risk of damage from arthritis.
Cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP): Like rheumatoid factor, CCP is another antibody that can be found in the blood of children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis and may indicate a higher risk of damage.
In many children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis, no significant abnormalities will be found in these blood tests.
Imaging test
X-rays or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be taken to rule out other conditions such as fractures, tumors, infections, or congenital defects.
Imaging may also be used periodically after diagnosis to monitor bone growth and detect joint damage.
How is Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Treated?
Treatment for juvenile idiopathic arthritis focuses on helping your child maintain normal levels of physical and social activity. To accomplish this, doctors may use a combination of strategies to relieve pain and swelling, maintain full motion and strength, and prevent complications. Its treatment may include medicines, therapy and surgery.
Medications
Medications used to help children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis are chosen to reduce pain, improve function, and reduce potential joint damage. Specific medicines for this include the following:-
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): These drugs, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) and naproxen sodium (Aleve), reduce pain and inflammation. Side effects include stomach upset and, much less often, kidney and liver problems.
Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs): Doctors use these drugs when NSAIDs alone fail to relieve symptoms of joint pain and inflammation or if there is a risk of future damage. There is high risk. DMARDs can be taken in combination with NSAIDs and are used to slow the progression of juvenile idiopathic arthritis. The most commonly used DMARD for children is methotrexate. Side effects of methotrexate may include nausea, low blood counts, liver problems, and a mildly increased risk of infection.
Biologic agents:- Also known as biologic response modifiers, this new class of drugs includes tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers. These medications can help reduce systemic inflammation and prevent joint damage. They may be used with DMARDs and other medications. Other biologic agents work to suppress the immune system in slightly different ways, including abatacept (Orenia), rituximab (Rituxan, Truxima, Ruxions), anakinra (Kynuret), and tocilizumab (Actemra). All biologics can increase the risk of infection.
Corticosteroids:- Medications such as prednisone can be used to control symptoms until another medication becomes effective. They are also used to treat inflammation when it does not occur in the joints, such as inflammation of the sac around the heart. These medications can interfere with normal growth and increase the chance of infection, so they should generally be used for the shortest possible period.
Therapies
Your doctor may recommend that your child work with a physical therapist to help keep joints flexible and maintain range of motion and muscle tone.
A physical therapist or an occupational therapist can make additional recommendations about the best exercises and protective equipment for your child. A physical or occupational therapist may also recommend that your child use joint supports or splints to help protect the joints and keep them in a good functional condition. For this, yoga and light exercise are much better options.
Surgery
In very severe cases, surgery may be required to improve joint function.
Can Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis be Prevented?
At this time, because the cause of juvenile idiopathic arthritis is unknown, there is no way to prevent the development of juvenile idiopathic arthritis.