Fever, swollen lymph nodes and rash. In some cases, high fever, swollen lymph nodes or a rash on the trunk may occur — which is usually worse in the evenings. Juvenile idiopathic arthritis can affect one joint or many. There are several different subtypes of juvenile idiopathic arthritis, but the main ones are systemic, oligoarticular and polyarticular. Which type your child has depends on symptoms, the number of joints affected, and if a fever and rashes are prominent features. Like other forms of arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis is characterized by times when symptoms flare up and times when symptoms may be minimal. When to see a doctor Take your child to the doctor if he or she has joint pain, swelling or stiffness for more than a week — especially if he or she also has a fever. Causes Juvenile idiopathic arthritis occurs when the body's immune system attacks its own cells and tissues. It's not known why this happens, but both heredity and environment seem to play a role. Risk factors Some forms of juvenile idiopathic arthritis are more common in girls.
This type of arthritis usually occurs along with the skin disease, psoriasis (skin condition; dry, scaly skin), but it also may occur in the presence of a few other factors. Enthesitis-related JIA. This group of conditions, which includes spondyloarthropathy (inflammation of the joints of the spine), affects the soft tissues around the joints (ligaments, tendons, or joint capsules). It can affect the sacroiliac joints, which are located at the base of the back, as well as the knee and the Achilles tendon. Children with a certain genetic marker are more prone to this type of arthritis. Undifferentiated JIA. If the child's signs and symptoms do not meet the criteria for any of these specific categories, or if they meet the criteria for more than one category, they are diagnosed as having undifferentiated JIA. Juvenile idiopathic arthritis requires careful diagnosis and treatment, usually by a pediatric rheumatologist. Sources Abramson LS. Arthritis in Children. American College of Rheumatology.
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis refers to a group of conditions involving joint inflammation ( arthritis) that first appears before the age of 16. This condition is an autoimmune disorder, which means that the immune system malfunctions and attacks the body's organs and tissues, in this case the joints. Researchers have described seven types of juvenile idiopathic arthritis. The types are distinguished by their signs and symptoms, the number of joints affected, the results of laboratory tests, and the family history. Systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis causes inflammation in one or more joints. A high daily fever that lasts at least 2 weeks either precedes or accompanies the arthritis. Individuals with systemic arthritis may also have a skin rash or enlargement of the lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy), liver (hepatomegaly), or spleen (splenomegaly). Oligoarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (also known as oligoarthritis) is marked by the occurrence of arthritis in four or fewer joints in the first 6 months of the disease.