Although arthritis is most often associated with older adults and elderly people, certain forms of arthritis can occur in children. Childhood arthritis can be just as painful and debilitating as adult arthritis. If your child has arthritis, visit a doctor for a proper diagnosis and safe treatment options.
Types
Childhood arthritis can occur because of many medical problems. Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is similar to the adult version, but children sometimes grow out of it as they get older, according to the University of Michigan Health System. There are also different types of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, which include systemic arthritis or Still's disease, polyarthritis and oligoarthritis, the Mayo Clinic says. Your child's arthritis can also occur due to a viral infection or from a rubella vaccination, a form of the condition called viral arthritis, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. A more serious and potentially fatal form of arthritis that affects children is called septic arthritis, a condition caused by a bacterial infection. The bacterial infection can come from an injury, wound, surgery or injection, and the bacteria spreads into the bloodstream and joints, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center says.
Symptoms
If your child has juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, he will likely experience symptoms like pain, swelling and inflammation of the joints, says the University of Michigan Health System. Your child may have difficulty walking or sleeping and experience stiffness in his joints. Still's disease or systemic arthritis causes internal-organ inflammation, rash, fever and swelling of the lymph nodes, and polyarthritis involves pain and inflammation of five or more joints, the Mayo Clinic says. Oligoarthritis affects fewer joints than polyarthritis and can cause eye inflammation. Viral arthritis has the same symptoms as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, while septic arthritis may include other signs. Septic arthritis can cause fever, immobility, irritability and even septic shock and death, according to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Risks
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis most often occurs in girls and white children, the Mayo Clinic says. Viral arthritis occurs in children who become infected with certain viruses, such as hepatitis B or C, enterovirus, rubella, mumps, HIV, dengue virus or human parvovirus, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Septic arthritis is most common in toddlers with bacterial staphylococcus, streptococcus or pneumonia infections. If your child has a chronic illness, a weakened immune system, prior joint problems or a chronic skin condition, he is at a higher risk of developing septic arthritis, says the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Treatments
Depending on the type of arthritis your child has, a doctor may prescribe certain medications or therapies to treat the symptoms. Steroid joint injections, physical therapy and anti-inflammatory medications are common treatments for juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, according to the University of Michigan Health System. Typically prescribed medications for juvenile rheumatoid arthritis include corticosteroids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, tumor necrosis factor blockers and disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, the Mayo Clinic says. Treatments for viral and septic arthritis usually address both the underlying cause and the symptoms. For viral arthritis, your child's doctor may prescribe antiviral and anti-inflammatory medications or aspirate the fluids around the joints for pain relief, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Septic arthritis is typically treated with a combination of intravenous and oral antibiotics. Your child's physician may recommend physical therapy, joint immobilization or other remedies to relieve the symptoms of septic arthritis, according to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Warnings
Have your child's arthritis properly diagnosed by a physician before starting any kind of treatment. Beware that some types of childhood arthritis like those caused by a bacterial or viral infection can be life-threatening. Even in cases of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, your child may need long-term treatment, says the University of Michigan Health System. Discuss these concerns with your child's health-care provider.
