- Rheumatoid arthritis - when the sore joints
- Symptoms
- Diagnosis and treatment
- Answers to frequently asked questions
- Juvenile
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis - joint damage in children
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis - a chronic inflammatory disease of the joints of character, which starts in children under the age of sixteen. The reason for this disease is unknown. Getting the disease can cause infection (rubella virus, mycoplasma), joint injury or stress
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. It is believed that a juvenile rheumatoid arthritis there is a genetic predisposition.
Overall view
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis - a rheumatic disease in which there is chronic inflammation (arthritis) of one or more joints in children under the age of 16 years. Symptoms of the disease usually include swelling, increased temperature sensitivity and pain in the abdomen, and the rigidity of the affected joints, amplifies the morning. In particularly serious cases, the destructive changes can lead to restriction of mobility of the patient and the deformation of the affected joints.
In children with Still's disease can manifest general symptoms such as fever, loss of appetite (anorexia), enlargement of the liver and the state of depression (hepatosplenomegaly), and other disorders. In addition, some types of diseases associated with increased risk of inflammation of certain areas of the eye (iridocyclitis). The scope and strength of symptoms may depend on the form of the disease. The exact cause of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is unknown.
Variants of the disease
Depending on how the illness, some variants isolated juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
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: Polyarticular arthritis, and systemic oligoartirit option. Each of them has its own peculiarities.
When polyarticular form in the first six months of the disease affects five or more joints (especially larger ones), and systemic manifestations are absent. The disease is more common in girls.
When oligoarthritis in the first six months in the inflammatory process involves up to four joints. Oligoarthritis spine and joints of the lower limbs occurs predominantly in boys in their late teens. The most frequently affected the sacral-iliac joints are also possible inflammatory changes in the knee and hip joints.
Oligoarthritis, which is combined with uveitis (inflammation of the choroid), occurs more often in girls at an early age. The most typical lesion knee. In some children, the disease can lead to blindness.
The system option (Still's disease) also has its own characteristic symptoms. These include:
- Daily fluctuations in body temperature to 3-5 ° C, while it rises followed by a rapid decline in repeated several times throughout the day;
- In most patients rash appears pink in patches with knots, thus there is no itching;
- The increase in the liver, spleen and lymph nodes;
- Extra-articular manifestations occur early;
- Boys and girls are sick with the same frequency.
Symptoms
The main symptoms of the disease - pain, stiffness in the morning and swelling in the joints. In the pathological process involved the knee, ankle, wrist and small joints of hands and elbows and hips.
Often affects the cervical spine, which is accompanied by pain and limited mobility. If arthritis occurs in the temporomandibular joint, this leads to difficulties in chewing and mouth opening and pain.
Synonyms:
- Still's disease
- Juvenile chronic arthritis
Classification of disorders:
- Systemic diseases in children (Still's disease)
- Polyarticular loss in children
- Persistent disease in childhood (oligoarthritis)
Extra-articular manifestations
These features are characteristic of Still's disease. In addition to increasing temperature and a rash, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
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accompanied by growth retardation. This is due to the affected areas of bone growth and treatment with glucocorticoids. Also disrupted the development of the lower jaw, the size of the palms and soles are increased according to the age of the child is not enough.
Some children appear subcutaneous rheumatoid nodules, over which the skin can be reddened. In the affected joints noticeable muscle atrophy, sometimes develop flexion contractures (a condition in which the extension of the joint is limited).
Characteristically heart disease with the development of pericarditis (inflammation of the outer shell). Shortness of breath, chest pain, in severe cases, circulatory failure develops.
Often there is an increase in the elbow, axillary and inguinal lymph nodes. Also, some of the patients there are signs of involvement in the pathological process of liver, spleen, kidneys and lungs.
Diagnosis and treatment
For diagnosis require the results of laboratory and instrumental investigations. Performs general and biochemical blood tests, her immunological studies, the study of synovial (intra) the liquid. Always held X-ray of the affected joints.
For the treatment of juvenile reactive arthritis
Reactive Arthritis: purulent inflammation of the joints
used NSAIDs and glucocorticosteroids. These drugs rapidly reduce pain and inflammation in the joints. In order to stop the destruction of the joints, prescribed methotrexate, cyclosporine, sulfasalazine, or infliximab.
Mode, diet and physiotherapy - equally important components of treatment. Some children require orthopedic correction.
