Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis

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Juvenile chronic polyarthritis; JRA; Still's disease; Juvenile idiopathic arthritis  

Arthritis symptoms:

• Joint stiffness on arising in the morning
• Limited range of motion
• Slow rate of growth or uneven arm or leg growth
• Hot, swollen, painful joints
• A child may stop using an affected limb
• Back pain

Systemic JRA symptoms:

• Fever, usually high fevers every day
• Rash that comes and goes with the fever
• Swollen lymph nodes (glands)

JRA can also cause eye inflammation. These symptoms include:

• Red eyes
• Eye pain
• Photophobia (increased pain when looking at a light)
• Visual changes

The physical examination shows swollen, warm, and tender joints that hurt to move. The child may have a rash. Other signs include an enlarged liver, enlarged spleen, or swollen lymph nodes.

Blood tests may include:

• CBC
• ESR (sedimentation rate)
• ANA
• RA factor
• HLA antigens for HLA B27

The doctor may need to tap a joint. This means that they will put a small needle into a joint that is swollen. This can help to find the cause of the arthritis. By removing fluid, the joint may feel better, too. Sometimes, the doctor will inject steroids into the joint to help decrease the swelling.

Other tests:

• X-ray of a joint
• X-ray of the chest
• ECG
• Eye exam by an ophthalmologist

Review Date: 04/20/2005
Reviewed By: Stanford Peng, M.D., Ph.D., Division of Rheumatology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.