Arthritis
A term referring to a variety of conditions characterized by inflammation of one or more joints.
Arthritis is commonly regarded as a disease of the elderly, but there are several varieties that primarily affect children, including juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, infectious arthritis, and juvenile ankylosing spondylitis.
Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (Jra)
The most common form of arthritis in children is juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, also known as JRA or Still's disease. Affecting over 65,000 young people in the United States—roughly 1 in 1,000—it can affect children as young as two years old. The condition occurs in "flareups" that can last from a few weeks to several years, alternating with periods of remission. JRA, like other types of arthritis, is thought to be an autoimmune disease, in which antibodies that are supposed to protect the body from foreign invaders turn against its own tissues, primarily the joints. The synovium, a thin membrane surrounding the joints, becomes inflamed, swelling and producing too much fluid. The results are pain, swelling, and stiffness, as well as warmth and redness of the skin. Genetic factors can also play a role in the disease. Its onset—or succeeding flare-ups—can be triggered by infection, injury, or emotional stress. Birth defects and diet are not thought to be connected with the disease.
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