Out of every 100,000 children and teens, between 10 and 20 experience the joint inflammation, pain, swelling and stiffness of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). Polyarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is one form of the disease that affects five or more of a child's joints. Girls are much more susceptible to develop this type of JRA, and children who have these arthritis symptoms also tend to experience vision problems and anemia. Rheumatologists treat polyarticular JRA with prescription medications.
Joint Pain
Children with polyarticular JRA first develop joint pain and swelling in small joints in the body, such as the fingers and hands. Over time, joint pain also occurs in larger joints, such as the hips, knees, ankles, neck and jaw. People who have polyarticular JRA tend to have joint pain on both sides of the body.
Positive Rheumatoid Factor Test
People with polyarticular JRA usually test positive for rheumatoid factor, a marker in blood that tells doctors a person is experiencing inflammation in the body.
Fever
Children with polyarticular JRA also may experience a slight fever of up to 101 degrees Fahrenheit.
Nodules
Polyarticular JRA may cause small nodules, or bumps, to form on a person's elbows, spine, knuckles or other pressure points of the body.
Neck, Spine and Jaw Stiffness
Polyarticular JRA can cause arthritis in the neck, spine and jaw. Because of the arthritis symptoms and inflammation, children with this type of JRA may have back pain and jaw pain and slower jaw growth, which can lead to eating and dental problems.
Tags: joint pain, with polyarticular, Children with, Children with polyarticular, juvenile rheumatoid