Juvenile arthritis

Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints that is characterized by swelling, heat and pain. While there is no identifiable cause, this chronic auto-immune disease is very common - nearly 300,000 children in the United States have some sort of arthritis.

The most prevalent form of juvenile arthritis is juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). JIA usually appears in kids between 18 months and 16 years old. Our pediatric rheumatology specialists can help diagnose and manage arthritis symptoms in children and teenagers. We work closely with pediatric orthopedic and rehabilitation specialists to help your child achieve a safe activity level that is healthy, comfortable and enjoyable.

To effectively manage and minimize the effects of juvenile arthritis, an early and accurate diagnosis is essential. Our pediatric rheumatology experts evaluate symptoms and precisely design a treatment plan to ensure each child manages joint pain and maintains an appropriate level of activity.

Chronic juvenile arthritis may seem like "growing pains." But normal growing pains usually occur in the bones (below the knee and on both sides), randomly throughout the day and are generally not related to activity. Juvenile arthritis is more specific to the joints, goes on for 6 weeks or more and usually causes pain in the morning that improves throughout the day. Activity usually alleviates the pain.