| Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, also known as JRA, is | | | | sudden high fevers and intermittent rashes. |
| considered a disease of the autoimmune system. | | | | If children complain of any of the symptoms of JRA, a |
| Although no one cause has been determined as the | | | | complete medical examination by a physician is |
| cause of the disease in babies as young as six | | | | warranted. Tests may include x-rays, a complete |
| months to teens as old as 15, there are specific | | | | blood count, examination of the bone marrow and |
| symptoms. An early diagnosis of these symptoms | | | | tests that can determine whether or not the |
| helps significantly in starting early treatment. | | | | Rheumatoid factor or other antibodies are present in |
| When pain, stiffness and swelling occurs in five or | | | | the blood, which is a distinguishing sign of Juvenile |
| fewer joints of the body, the condition is called | | | | Rheumatoid Arthritis. |
| Oligoarticular JRA. This type of the disease is usually | | | | Once the symptoms have been diagnosed as being |
| noticed because the iris of the eye becomes inflamed. | | | | caused by some type of JRA, an effective treatment |
| Polyarticular Arthritis is the second type, more often | | | | program can commence. This might include injections |
| affecting girls and causing swelling and pain in the small | | | | of corticosteriod medication directly into the body's |
| joints of the hand as well as the neck, hips, knees, | | | | joints, surgery, physical therapy or gentle exercise. |
| ankles and feet. The third type of Juvenile Rheumatoid | | | | Eating a diet rich in calcium to strengthen the bones |
| Arthritis is systemic JRA and affects all of the body's | | | | has also been found to be effective in the treatment |
| joints with stiffness, pain and swelling, along with | | | | of Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. |