Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Treating the Problems of Juvenile Arthritis

By Brad Morgan

Growing older is associated with more aches and more pains.

Doing yard work can make you sore for days; exercising makes you aware of joint and muscles that you did not know you had. Doing routine chores is a bit more difficult, and it takes our bodies longer to recover. While this is normal for aging bodies, many children also feel this frustrating physical pain or discomfort.

Juvenile arthritis is a reality that starts out as a minor discomfort, but can develop into a disabling condition.

Juvenile arthritis is an autoimmune disease that affects the joints. They become inflamed and range of motion is severely limited. This disease strikes at a crucial stage of development, and children who suffer from it may not grow at the same pace as other children or reach their full height potential.

It is common for children with juvenile arthritis to experience stiffness in their joints in the morning.

If a child experiences this and other symptoms of juvenile arthritis that do not abate after six weeks, and there is no other medical cause for the pain or discomfort, then juvenile arthritis is often diagnosed. This disease is not diagnosed by a single test but must be made when other conditions have been ruled out.

Most often, a pediatric rheumatologist will be the one to finalize the diagnosis, as they specialize in arthritis in children.

When joints become inflamed, as they do with juvenile arthritis, it can be extremely painful. Children with this disease need to understand the physical limitations that they will have to live with. Parents can help by having a good understanding of the disease.

The severity and scope of juvenile arthritis differs depending on the type of arthritis. Children with polyarticular juvenile arthritis suffer from inflamation in five or more joints. Those with pauciarticular juvenile arthritis are affected in four joints or fewer, and children with systemic onset juvenile arthritis experience joint pain or inflammation in at one or more joints as well as internal organs.

The goal of juvenile arthritis treatment is to relieve pain and treat symptoms. First, inflammation must be controlled. It is also important to try to minimize joint damage and to retain mobility.

It is important to keep the joints relaxed and quell any swelling. Exercise is useful in achieving this and will be included in a child's treatment.

Exercise can be used in conjunction with relaxation techniques characteristic of yoga and meditation to help ease the stress within the joints. Splints can also be used during hours of sleep to prevent morning stiffness.

It is important to consult with specialists in juvenile arthritis, particularly if the child's condition is severe.

It is important that these specialists as well as the primary care physician routinely check the child. Juvenile arthritis can affect the entire body, including internal organs, so it is vital that any signs of inflammation are examined promptly.

It is common for children coping with juvenile arthritis to become depressed. Their disease may impose physical limitations on their activities that isolate them from their peers. Psychologists should also be an integral part of the health care team.

It is vital to understand the child's feelings and maximize their potential by highlighting their abilities rather than their limitations.

Stress often exacerbates physical illnesses, and that is certainly true of juvenile arthritis. It can impede treatment and health. Minimizing the stress of any child suffering from juvenile arthritis is essential when helping them deal with this illness.

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