The 5 Types of Juvenile Arthritis | The Prescription Shop

Summertime is supposed to be full of fun in the sun, but for many children with juvenile arthritis, physical activity and mobility also comes with a lot of pain. Did you know that July is Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month? This month, The Prescription Shop would like to help raise awareness of this common autoimmune disease which impacts more than 200,000 American children every year.

Juvenile arthritis is a disease of inflammation in children 16 or younger. The inflammation attacks a child’s synovium, which is the tissue that lines the inside of the joints. Researchers don’t know what causes juvenile arthritis, but believe it could be related to genetics, infections, or certain environmental triggers.

There are five types of juvenile arthritis:

Enthesitis-Related Arthritis
The entheses are the places on the body where the tendons attach to the bones. In addition to the entheses, Enthesis-Related Arthritis impacts the spine, hips, and eyes. Boys aged nine or older are most frequently diagnosed with this type of arthritis, and there is often a family history of arthritis of the back among male family members.

Oligoarthritis
Also known as pauciarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, this affects one to four joints within the first six months of the onset of the disease. Knees, ankles, and wrists are most commonly affected by oligoarthritis, though it may also affect the eye. Oligoarthritis is more commonly diagnosed in girls than boys, and some children will outgrow the disease as they enter adulthood.

Polyarthritis
This form of juvenile arthritis is also called polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis, or ipJIA. iIpJIA affects five or more joints within the first six months of the disease–frequently the same joints on each side of a child’s body. It also often affects joints in the jaw, neck, hands and feet and more closely resembles the adult disease. This type of juvenile arthritis is also more common among girls than boys.

Psoriatic Arthritis
This type of juvenile arthritis combines joint disease with the skin disorder known as psoriasis. A child may get either psoriasis or arthritis years before developing its counterpart. It is common for children with psoriatic arthritis to have pitted fingernails as well.

Systemic Arthritis
Also called Sil’s disease, this type may affect the entire body and its systems. It typically causes high fevers and a rash, usually on the trunk, arms, and legs. Sil’s disease can also impact internal organs including the heart, liver, spleen, and lymph nodes. Boys and girls are about equally affected by juvenile systemic arthritis.

This summer, stop by The Prescription Shop to help soak up more healthy fun! Our friendly pharmacists are here to answer your questions and work as a valuable member of your healthcare team. Visit our website today to learn more about our services that make healthy living easy.