| Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis: What Now, Old | | | | Diagnostic tools including blood tests, |
| Peoples Disease Being Caught By Kids? | | | | X-rays, and complete physical examinations |
| | | | are necessary. Other tests for other diseases |
| We all know that arthritis, inflammation of | | | | known to be linked to juvenile rheumatoid |
| bone joints, is normally associated with an | | | | arthritis may be performed, it is also likely |
| illness affecting people over the age of 50. | | | | that a referral to an orthopedic surgeon will |
| Therefore it will come as a massive surprise | | | | be made to take samples of joint fluid for |
| to parents when their children are diagnosed | | | | testing and further analysis. A diagnosis |
| with it. Even more surprising is the fact | | | | usually takes a number of days, upon receipt |
| that approximately 300,000 children in the | | | | of the results of these tests, the |
| United States alone have some form of | | | | pediatrician or doctor will work together |
| arthritis, and that we the public are totally | | | | with the orthopedic surgeon and any other |
| unaware of this fact. | | | | medical professionals to develop a strategy |
| | | | to cure the child of juvenile rheumatoid |
| Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is the most | | | | arthritis. |
| common type of arthritis affecting around | | | | |
| 60,000 children. Unfortunately, doctors are | | | | Easily Treatable |
| not yet certain as to what causes juvenile | | | | |
| rheumatoid arthritis, however, there are | | | | Unlike the adult variety which does not have |
| indications that it is associated with the | | | | any known cure, the good news for both the |
| autoimmune system, where white blood cells | | | | child suffering from juvenile rheumatoid |
| are unable to differentiate between normal | | | | arthritis along with the parents is thatthis |
| and foreign cells. Although being dissimilar | | | | form of the disease is easy to treat. Doctors |
| to the adult form of rheumatoid arthritis | | | | can prescribe medication to help with the |
| | | | swelling and inflammation of the joints along |
| It is imperative that all parents be educated | | | | with a referral to a physical therapist. Who |
| about this debilitating childrens disease.. | | | | design and implement a set of exercises to |
| | | | improve the arthritis and improve muscle |
| The Familiar Symptoms | | | | stamina and joint flexibility. Regular |
| | | | exercise is vitally important to ensure that |
| It is quite normal for kids to complain off | | | | the child is protected against further |
| and on about having sore joints and it is | | | | arthritis by protecting bones and joints. |
| usually put down to growing pains. However, | | | | Treatment actually serves two purposes: |
| it may actually be more. If your child | | | | |
| develops a limp and continually complains of | | | | 1. to protect and repair the joints from |
| sore joints associated with rashes and | | | | damage , and |
| spikes in temperature, like fits of fever, | | | | |
| this may indicate that juvenile rheumatoid | | | | 2. reducing or eliminating the inflammation |
| arthritis is present. Under these conditions | | | | and pain. |
| it is important to get him/her into the | | | | |
| doctors surgery asap. The quicker a diagnosis | | | | The nature of the disease makes a child's |
| is made the less damage will occur to | | | | life miserable. This disease can harm their |
| cartilage and the joints affected by juvenile | | | | social skills and make them irritable while |
| rheumatoid arthritis. | | | | hindering their physical development |
| | | | |
| Diagnosis | | | | Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is unsettling |
| | | | for parents, and is likely to necessitate |
| Luckily, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is | | | | major changes in lifestyle to insure that |
| easily diagnosed, there are a wide array of | | | | their child's overall health is ensured and |
| tests, available some of the more regular | | | | wont be harmed by the disease. |