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IAAM has established World Autoimmune Arthritis Day (WAAD) on May 20th, 2012, aimed to raise awareness that Autoimmune Arthritis diseases are not the same as having "arthritis".   

To learn more about WAAD and to see how YOU can raise awareness on May 20th, please visit the website by clicking the logo below:

Are You Tired of Juvenile Autoimmune Arthritis Diseases being represented in the media by showing the invisibility of JA instead of focusing on educating the public on the realities? 
IAAM is launching our JA Awareness Campaign, in conjunction with World Autoimmune Arthritis Day, which will show the REAL Juvenile Arthritis.

Meet Maddox, 19 Months Old.
Maddox is diagnosed with Polyarticular JIA & Uveitis.

Maddox was healthy for the first 6 months of his life until a bout of pneumonia hospitalized him for 4 days.  Nine months later he was diagnosed with Polyarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) and the following month with Uveitis. 
Prior to diagnosis Maddox's parents noticed he was beginning to stand and walk but required their assistance for balance.  "We also noticed he would cry unusually hard while changing his diapers, specifically when we would grab his ankles and lift his legs," explained his mother, Krissie.  "As he began walking more his steps became very large and exaggerated and he still needed to hold our hands for balance."  Eventually they noticed a 'bend' in his legs and soon he could no longer bear any of his weight.



Shortly after Maddox was diagnosed with JIA his parents noticed issues with his eyes, especially their extreme sensitivity to light. They took him to an ophthalmologist who diagnosed Maddox with Uveitis. 

Uveitis is an inflammatory eye disease commonly associated with Juvenile Arthritis. It is a serious aspect that affects many JA patients and can lead to loss of vision.



Maddox currently is prescribed an array of medications including prednisone eye drops for the Uveitis, Inflammatory Inhibitors (NSAID), Methotrexate (DMARD) which is a mild chemotherapy drug and a mulit-vitamin with iron and folic acid. This list of medications is common for those suffering with Autoimmune Arthritis diseases of any age.

To learn more about Maddox and his journey please visit the World Autoimmune Arthritis Day website and also Maddox's family page on Facebook at
http://www.facebook.com/MaddoxJourneyToRemission


Parents: View tips regarding Uveitis detection by visiting our "Parents Corner" section to the left of this page.

Juvenile Arthritis

Juvenile arthritis (JA) refers to any form of arthritis that develops in children or teenagers who are less than 18 years of age.  One common myth is that all versions of arthritis are caused by injury or degeneration (wear and tear) of the body.  A child who is 4, an infant who just started walking or an 8 year old child that suddenly cannot walk but there was no injury to recall...these types of Autoimmune Arthritis are not self-inflicted.  They are not due to malnutrition or excessive use or a lack of exercise.  The reason onset of Autoimmune Arthritis is young can best be seen in the faces of the children, who's autoimmune systems began malfunctioning at a very early age. There is no evidence that foods, toxins, allergies, excess weight or vitamin deficiencies play a role in causing JA.

There are several types of Juvenile Arthritis.  All kinds of JA is considered "autoimmune arthritis" because it is inflammatory not degenerative (Ostearthritis). 

Awareness is necessary to change the misunderstandings.  But only major change initiatives will truly push the shift to understand into motion.  Therefore, IAAM suggests starting by changing one simple vocabulary alteration:  Please ALWAYS use the term "Autoimmune Arthritis" when discussing kids arthritic diseases.  Simply saying that children can have arthritis does not do any good in educating people who don't understand there is any other kind than Osteoarthritis.  So, to many, this statement translates as, "Children get arthritis just like the adult kind." WRONG.
Let's change the way we speak and we predict a greater and quicker awareness will begin!
"Children get Autoimmune Arthritis".



Types of Juvenile Autoimmune Arthritis

JUVENILE IDIOPATHIC ARTHRITIS (JIA)-Formerly called Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
Polyarticular JIA typically affects 5 or more joints, primarily in large joints, and usually affects the same joint on both sides of the body.

Pauciarticular JIA affects typically four or fewer joints.  It often affects large joints, one side of the body and may cause eye inflammation.

Systemic onset JIA causes high, spiking fevers that can last for weeks or months.  Typically paired with a rash that can be pale or with red spots.  The feeling of arthritis is usually present, especially in hands, wrists, ankles and feet.

Still’s Disease is a form of arthritis occurring most typically in children. In rare cases it can occur in adults, but it is then referred to as adult-onset Still’s disease.  This disease is also known as systemic-onset JRA. 

JUVENILE SPONDYLOARTHRITIS (JSpA)
Also known as Juvenile Spondyloarthropathy, this is the medical term for a group of childhood rheumatic diseases, which cause arthritis before the age of 16 and may span through adult life. The juvenile spondyloarthropathies include:
Undifferentiated Spondyloarthropathy
Juvenile Ankylosing Spondylitis
Psoriatic Arthritis

*Reactive Arthritis and spondylitis of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases are not supported as primary Autoimmune Arthritis diseases by the IAAM because those diseases that can be cured and those not involving dominant inclusion of joint involvement are not included in our classification.


Juvenile Systemic Lupus Erythematosus is associated with skin rashes, joint pain, pleurisy, kidney disease and neurologic movement. 

Pediatric Mixed Connective Tissue Disease is a rare disease that includes symptoms of arthritis, but is paired with features of Scleroderma, Dermatomyositis and Lupus.


Related Diseases:
Juvenile Dermatomyositis
Juvenile Scleroderma
Spondylitis of Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Reactive Arthritis


 * Scleroderma, Dermatomyositis, Reactive Arthritis and Inflammatory Bowel Diseases are considered "Related Diseases" and not Primary Autoimmune Arthritis diseases, according to IAAM's definition and classification criteria.  Scleroderma, Dermatomyositis, and IBD do not have over 90% of cases exhibiting joint involvement and Reactive Arthritis is caused solely due to infection and is temporary/curable.

Diagnosis

A diagnosis is based on a complete medical history and careful medical examination. There is no single test to diagnose juvenile arthritis.  Evaluation by either a pediatric rheumatologist or a rheumatologist is often necessary.  While laboratory tests and blood work can be performed, the tests may result in a negative reading and typically a diagnosis cannot be clinically given until at least 6 weeks of symtoms have been recorded.

Parents Corner

For the parents of children, or the children with arthritis themselves, how did you know something was wrong?  Or, if you were like many parents, unable to figure it out, then later look back on and think, "Maybe they did that because of the pain?" 

Please note, these are based on some parents experiences, your experience may vary.

Detecting Uvetis in Your JA'er

Uvetis is an inflammatory eye disease found in a large percentage of children who are affected by Juvenile Arthritis.  The most important thing to remember is the condition often has no symptoms in its early stages.  Catching it early, with frequent eye screenings, is when it is most treatable and when it is critical for saving sight. Symptoms to watch for include:

2. Eye pain or irritation- your child could be rubbing their eyes often or you may notice tearing occassionally from the affected eyes

3. Possible red eye, but don't rely on 'seeing' anything to suspect uveitis 

4. Dark, floating spots in your field of vision (floaters)

5. Blurred or decreased vision

Keep in mind that all of these symptoms may vary in your child is so families who have children with JA must keep regularly scheduled opthamologist visits. Uveitis is sometimes quite hard to detect, especially when the child is too young to talk about what is going on.  Be proactive and remember, left untreated uveitis can lead to permanent vision loss.


Published 02.04.2012. Some of this information was submitted by a JIA parent.  This information is one parents' experience, yours may vary.  If you feel your child may have Autoimmune Arthritis and/or Uveitis, please seek see your doctor for further examination. 

 
References: Unless otherwise noted, all information displayed regarding medical symptoms and diagnosis information is collected from resources such as the Arthritis Foundation, the American College of Rheumatology, the Spondylitis Association of America, the Lupus Foundation, the Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation, and the National Psoriasis Foundation.