Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis-Topic Overview

Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis - Topic Overview

Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Guide

• Topic Overview
• Cause
• Symptoms
• What Happens
• What Increases Your Risk
• When To Call a Doctor
• Exams and Tests
• Treatment Overview
• Prevention
• Home Treatment
• Medications
• Surgery
• Other Treatment
• Other Places To Get Help
• References
• Credits

Your doctor will ask questions about your child's symptoms and past health and will do a physical exam. Your child may also have blood tests and a urine test to look for signs of the disease. If your child has the disease, these tests can help your doctor find out which type it is.

Your child's treatment will be based on the type of JIA he or she has, and how serious it is.

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) reduce pain and inflammation. If they don't work well enough, other medicines are used.
• Exercise and physical therapy help keep your child's muscles flexible and strong.
• Occupational therapy helps your child live as independently as possible.
• Surgery to correct joint problems is only done in rare cases.

Even when JIA isn't severe, your child may still need long-term treatment. To make sure that treatment is right for your child, work closely with the medical team. Learn as much as you can about your child's disease and treatments. Stay on a schedule with your child's medicines and exercise.

Take good physical care of yourself so that you can help your child through the more difficult periods of illness. Consider finding a support group of families who live with juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Your local chapter of the Arthritis Foundation can provide classes and support group information.

Learning about juvenile idiopathic arthritis:	What is juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)? What are the types of JIA? What causes it? What are the symptoms? What increases a child's risk of getting it? What happens with juvenile idiopathic arthritis? Can it be prevented?
Being diagnosed:	How is juvenile idiopathic arthritis diagnosed? When should my child see a doctor?
Getting treatment:	What type of doctor treats JIA? How is it treated? Are medicines used to treat it? Is surgery used to treat it? Are there steps I can take at home to treat JIA?
Ongoing concerns:	Is juvenile idiopathic arthritis a lifelong condition? How will it affect my child's daily life?