FREE ESSAY ON JUVENILE RHEUMATOID ARTHRIRIS

JUVENILE RHEUMATOID ARTHRIRIS

Tyler McKinna
Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
Alternative Names:
Juvenile chronic polyarthritis; JRA; Still disease 
Definition: 
A chronic, inflammatory disease that may cause joint or connective tissue damage. The
onset occurs before 
Age 16. 
Causes, incidence, and risk factors: 
JRA is thought to belong to the collagen classes of disease (those diseases that involve
connective tissue). 
It is a complicated disease. The primary manifestation is arthritis, but the disease may
involve other body systems such as the heart and lining around the heart (pericardium),
lungs and lining around the lungs (pleura), eyes, and skin. Systemic arthritis affects
20% of those with juvenile arthritis and includes fever, rash, and enlarged spleen
(splenomegaly) in addition to joint inflammation. JRA is generally divided into five
broad groups depending on whether a large number of joints are involved or just a few,
whether the rheumatoid factor (a blood test) is positive or negative, and whether there
is eye involvement or not. 
The five categories of JRA may be roughly broken down as follows: 
-  many involved joints and a positive rheumatoid factor 
-  many involved joints and a negative rheumatoid factor 
-  few involved joints and a positive antinuclear antibody 
-  few involved joints and a positive HLA B27 surface antigen 
-  systemic JRA (throughout the body) 
A specialist in rheumatology generally makes the category determination. 
The onset of arthritis may be slow or extremely rapid. An early sign of slow onset may be
stiffness on arising in the morning. Swollen, painful joints characterize the arthritis
of JRA with pain on motion and sometimes to touch. The skin over the joints is generally
not red but can be. The systemic form of JRA may first appear with high fevers, chills
and a rash but without joint pain. In the systemic form, arthritis may develop months
after the appearance of the fever. 
The two forms of JRA where there are only a few joints involved often have associated eye
disease. The most severe form of eye disease, chronic iridocyclitis of JRA, may lead to
lead to visual problems or blindness. The milder form of JRA-associated eye disease is
acute iridocyclitis, which generally heals without permanent damage. 
The cause of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is unknown. Growth may be affected during
periods of active disease. Girls are affected more often than boys are. The peak onset
occurs between the ages of 2 to 5 years old and between 9 to 12 years old. Risk factors
may be a family history of the disease and recent rubella infection or vaccine. 
Prevention: 
There is no known prevention for JRA. 
Symptoms: 
General symptoms: 
-  joint stiffness on arising in the morning 
-  limited range of motion 
-  slow rate of growth 
-  hot, swollen, painful joints 
-  fever, low grade (with multiple-joint type disease) 
-  fever, high spiking with chills (with systemic form of disease) 
-  rheumatoid rash 
-  rheumatoid nodules (at sites of pressure) 
Symptoms of eye involvement: 
-  red eyes 
-  eye pain 
-  photophobia 
-  visual changes 
Other symptoms: 
-  chest pain 
-  shortness of breath 
-  abdominal pain 
Signs and tests: 
Physical examination may show an enlarged liver (hepatomegaly), enlarged spleen
(splenomegaly), or swollen lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy). There may also be signs of: 
-  anemia 
-  iridocyclitis 
-  pericarditis 
-  pleuritis 
-  myocarditis 
-  Tests include:
-  CBC 
-  ESR 
-  ANA 
-  RA factor 
-  HLA antigens 
-  immunoelectrophoresis - serum 
-  synovial fluid analysis 
-  X-ray of a joint 
-  X-ray of the chest 
-  ECG 
-  slit-lamp exam of the eyes 
Treatment: 
Treatment is aimed at preserving mobility and joint function and supporting the patient
and family through a long chronic illness. 
Therapeutic medications include: 
-  aspirin 
-  nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDS) 
-  corticosteroids 
-  topical ophthalmic corticosteroids 
-  mydriatics 
-  gold therapy 
-  chloroquine agents 
-  immune suppressing agents (rarely used in children) 
Note: Talk to your health care provider before giving aspirin or NSAIDS to children! 
Physical therapy and exercise programs may be recommended. Surgical procedures may be
indicated, including joint replacement. 
Expectations (prognosis): 
JRA is seldom life threatening. Long periods of spontaneous remission are typical. Often
JRA improves or remits at puberty. Approximately 75% of JRA patients eventually enter
remission with minimal functional loss and deformity. 
The stress of illness can often be helped by joining a support group. Here, members share
common experiences and problems.. 
Complications: 
-  loss of vision or decreased vision 
-  total joint destruction of the major weight-bearing joints 
-  chronic spondyloarthropathy