What are the early signs and symptoms of juvenile arthritis

Arthritis is a common disease today. Due to the fast-paced, hectic and stressful lifestyle, it mostly gets unnoticed. Juvenile arthritis is a disease that occurs in children aged 15 or younger. It occurs due to the swelling of the tissue that lines the inner joints. Certain diseases attack the immune system of one’s own body. Juvenile arthritis is one of them. Although the reason is mostly unknown, researchers believe that it may be linked to genetics or sometimes even pollution.

There are different types of juvenile arthritis-like oligoarthritis which affects particularly the eye and systemic arthritis which afflicts damage to almost all of the vital organs of the body. Polyarthritis, another type of arthritis can affect the jaw and neck joints as well as hands and feet. Psoriatic arthritis deals with skin problems and is easily characterised by disfigured nails in children. Enthesitis arthritis affects the spine, hips and eyes as well as the places where tendons attach the bones. If you happen to stay in Bangalore, you can look for the best orthopaedic hospital in Bangalore to help you treat all kinds of arthritis.

Signs and symptoms of juvenile arthritis

Pain: In normal cases, a child may complain of severe pain after a day out but in cases of juvenile arthritis the pain may develop gradually. There may be pain or swelling after waking up from sleep which will gradually die down over the course of the day. If unchecked one may need to have pain relief drugs to lessen the pain.

Swelling: Swelling or redness around painful joints is a sign of juvenile arthritis. This swelling is likely to persist for several days or weeks. If it does persist for a long span of time, it is a strong sign.

Fever: Children with juvenile arthritis may get suddenly bogged down with a fever at any time of the day, accompanied by fatigue. These fevers can occur anytime during the day and subside within a short time.

Rashes: Children may develop any forms of allergies or blisters on their body. But if the rashes are pinkish and is found to occur across the cheeks, nose or arms and legs that are a cause of worry as it can be a rheumatoid problem or arthritis.

Weight Factor: Children can either overeat and subsequently gain weight or doesn’t have an appetite for food and thereby, remains thin. But if the child is found to lose weight consistently, lacks an appetite and remains fatigued always that can be a potential sign of juvenile arthritis.

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Eye Problem: Children may develop pink eye from playing outdoors which is a normal cause, but if there is a swelling of the iris or pain and blurred vision, that is a definite symptom of juvenile arthritis.

Bone Problem: Children with one particular afflicted knee will not be able to move freely with age and may also get affected in some other joint and the disease tends to spread. One should visit the best orthopaedic surgeon in Bangalore for any discrepancies.

Generally, the signs and symptoms are mistaken by the parents for normal diseases which have identical signs. But the need of the hour is proper examination and diagnosis done by a paediatrician to check whether the child is suffering from juvenile arthritis. Diagnosis can rule out any signs of potential arthritis in the child and subsequently suggest medications and let the child have a normal and happy life, just like any other children. As the matter is concerned with the child’s well-being, one should visit a physician at the smallest problem faced by the child.

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