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by EO Mag Staff

About Arthritis

Arthritis in Children

There are three common types of juvenile idiopathic arthritis. These are pauciarticular, polyarthritis and systemic disease.

About one in a 1,000 children has arthritis. Usually it's a form of inflammatory arthritis known as juvenile idiopathic arthritis (formerly known as juvenile chronic arthritis). This is a separate condition from rheumatoid arthritis. In many cases the inflammation stops in late childhood, but about a third of children affected have problems that last into their adult life.

There are three common types of juvenile idiopathic arthritis:

Pauciarticular arthritis

This often starts at the age of two or three. The problem is limited to four joints or fewer, which become swollen and painful. Sometimes the eyes are affected, too.

Polyarthritis

This affects five or more joints. It can start at any age, from a few months onwards, and usually spreads from one joint to another quite quickly. Children often feel generally unwell, sometimes with a fever.

Systemic Disease

This affects the whole body and causes fever and rashes as well as inflamed and painful joints. It usually starts in children under five and used to be called Still's disease.