The natural history of arthritis is that it comes in flares, so it is not uncommon to have a flare-up after remission, especially if you have stopped treatments. Most patients go back into remission. Sometimes you need to change or adjust your current treatment regimen. If you stop a medication and get a flare-up, [...]
There are 7 recognized subtypes of JIA, and ‘oligoarticular’ disease refers to children who have 4 or fewer joints affected at diagnosis. Some oligoarticular cases can ‘extend’ after 6 months to involve 5 or more joints while others ‘persist’ as oligoarticular. In terms of treatment, this is tailored to the specific patient situation. NSAIDS [...]
Yes! As a pediatric rheumatology community, we are very hopeful about the effectiveness of our medications and physical rehabilitation as we are successfully able to achieve remission for the majority of our patients. Recent data from research on Canadian children with arthritis has shown that more than 75% of patients will be in remission [...]
Children with JIA can develop uveitis at any time, even when their arthritis is not active. For some children with JIA, the arthritis inflammation becomes quiet, but they have continued uveitis requiring treatments. Similarly, arthritis can flare up at unpredictable times as well. The inflammation isn’t ‘switching back and forth’- the inflammation of JIA [...]
There are many causes of joint pain in children and adolescents. Arthritis is one we are always on the lookout for. However, there are many other factors that may cause joint pain in children with arthritis and those without. One common example is hypermobility – when the joints are very flexible – which can [...]
When a child or teen with JIA has active disease, or a flare of disease, in joints in the legs (hips, knees, ankles, feet), it can affect their ability to walk. This is usually due to pain in the affected joints. At the time of JIA diagnosis, approximately 30-40% of children may have [...]
An excellent book is Your Child with Arthritis: A Family Guide for Caregiving by Dr. Lori B. Tucker, Bethany A. DeNardo, Dr. Judith A. Stebulis, and Dr. Jane G. Schaller.
Children with arthritis are not just kids with an adult disease. Although the drugs and therapies used to treat children are similar, the intensity of treatment and the frequency of follow-ups need to be much greater. Unlike for adults with arthritis for example, physical growth may be stunted, children may grow one leg longer [...]
This is very difficult to predict at the outset, and to some extent, it depends on the type of JIA. In a small number of children, the disease may last as little as several months to a year and disappear forever. Most children, however, have an up-and–down course with “flares” and “remissions” for many [...]
Arthritis is diagnosed by examination of the child by a doctor who has specialized training (or experience) in childhood rheumatic diseases. Preliminary evaluation should be by the family doctor or pediatrician, but the final diagnosis is ideally made by a pediatric rheumatologist. There are no blood tests or x-rays to confirm a diagnosis but [...]
If you or a loved one is dealing with Juvenile Arthritis or any rheumatic disease, you're not alone. Sign up now for access to vital resources, news, and events. Join a supportive community that gets what you're facing. Together, we can make a difference in your Juvenile Arthritis journey.
Join us in creating a pain-free future for kids by becoming a monthly donor! Your support will give kids and families across Canada the care, education and resources they deserve. Click here to learn more!
