Also called: Also called: Childhood arthritis, JRA, Juvenile idiopathic arthritis, Still's disease
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) is a type of arthritis that happens in children age 16 or younger. It causes joint swelling, stiffness and sometimes reduced motion. It can affect any joint, and in some cases it can affect internal organs as well.
One early sign of JRA may be limping in the morning. Symptoms can come and go. Some children have just one or two flare-ups. Others have symptoms that never go away. JRA causes growth problems in some children.
No one knows exactly what causes JRA. Scientists do know it is an autoimmune disorder, which means your immune system, which normally helps your body fight infection, attacks your body's own tissues. Medicines and physical therapy can help maintain movement and reduce swelling and pain.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
- Arthritis in Children(American College of Rheumatology) - http://www.rheumatology.org/public/factsheets/arth_in_children.asp?aud=pat
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Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/arthritis/jra.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/parent/en_espanol/medicos/jra_esp.html
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JAMA Patient Page: Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis(American Medical Association) - http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/294/13/1722.pdf
Also available in Spanish http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/data/294/13/1722/DC1/1
- Juvenile Arthritis(Arthritis Foundation) - http://www.arthritis.org/disease-center.php?disease_id=38
- FDA Requires Stronger Fungal Infection Warning for TNF Blockers(09/15/2008, Food and Drug Administration) - http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/tnf091508.html
- Drug May Ease Symptoms of Juvenile Arthritis(07/15/2008, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_66978.html
- New Estimates on Childhood Arthritis(07/07/2008, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/Features/ChildhoodArthritis/
- ANA (Antinuclear Antibody Test)(American Association for Clinical Chemistry) - http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/ana/test.html
- Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis: How Is It Diagnosed?(Arthritis Foundation) - http://ww2.arthritis.org/conditions/DiseaseCenter/JRA/diagnosed.asp
- Rheumatoid Factor(American Association for Clinical Chemistry) - http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/rheumatoid/test.html
- Celebrex Approved to Treat Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis(Food and Drug Administration) - http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2006/NEW01530.html
- Information for Patients about COX-2 Selective NSAIDS(American College of Rheumatology) - http://www.rheumatology.org/public/factsheets/nsaids.asp
- Juvenile Arthritis Medications(Arthritis Foundation) - http://www.arthritis.org/ja-medications.php
- Surgery(Arthritis Foundation) - http://www.arthritis.org/juvenile-arthritis-surgery.php
- Common Therapies to Consider(Arthritis Foundation) - http://www.arthritis.org/common-therapies-to-consider.php
- Diet & Nutrition(Arthritis Foundation) - http://www.arthritis.org/juvenile-arthritis-nutritiondiet.php
- Coping with Juvenile Arthritis(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00075
- Dealing with Emotional Issues(Arthritis Foundation) - http://www.arthritis.org/ja-emotional-issues.php
- School Success for Children with Arthritis(Arthritis Foundation) - http://www.arthritis.org/ja-school-success.php
- 51 Ways to Be Good to Your Joints -- Lose Weight(Arthritis Foundation) - http://www.arthritis.org/joints-weight.php
- Exercise(Arthritis Foundation) - http://www.arthritis.org/juvenile-arthritis-exercise.php
- Kid Power(Arthritis Foundation) - http://www.arthritis.org/juvenile-arthritis-exercise-tips.php
- Pain Center: Understanding Your Pain(Arthritis Foundation) - http://www.arthritis.org/understanding-pain.php
- Taking Control: Helping Children Follow Their Medical Treatment Program(Arthritis Foundation) - http://www.arthritis.org/juvenile-arthritis-treatment-plan.php
- Juvenile Arthritis - Other Types and Related Conditions(Arthritis Foundation) - http://ww2.arthritis.org/conditions/DiseaseCenter/ja_other.asp
- Juvenile Enteropathic Arthritis(Arthritis Foundation) - http://ww2.arthritis.org/conditions/diseasecenter/juvenileenteropathicarthritis.asp
- Juvenile Reactive Arthritis(Arthritis Foundation) - http://ww2.arthritis.org/conditions/diseasecenter/juvenilereactivearthritis.asp
- Juvenile Spondyloarthritis (JSpA)(Spondylitis Association of America) - http://www.spondylitis.org/about/juvenile.aspx
- Pauciarticular JRA(Arthritis Foundation) - http://ww2.arthritis.org/conditions/diseasecenter/pauciarticularJRA.asp
- Polyarticular JRA(Arthritis Foundation) - http://ww2.arthritis.org/conditions/diseasecenter/polyarticularJRA.asp
- Systemic Onset JRA(Arthritis Foundation) - http://ww2.arthritis.org/conditions/diseasecenter/systemiconsetJRA.asp
- How Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Affects the Eyes(Cleveland Clinic Foundation) - http://my.clevelandclinic.org/disorders/rheumatoid_arthritis/hic_how_juvenile_rheumatoid_arthritis_affects_the_eyes.aspx
- Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis: Eye Care, Dental Care and Diet(Arthritis Foundation) - http://ww2.arthritis.org/conditions/DiseaseCenter/JRA/treated_eye_dental_diet.asp
- What People with Rheumatoid Arthritis Need to Know about Osteoporosis(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Osteoporosis/Conditions_Behaviors/osteoporosis_ra.asp
- Patient Assistance Programs for Rheumatology-Related Drugs(American College of Rheumatology) - http://www.rheumatology.org/public/acrast.asp?aud=pat
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Arthritis, Juvenile Rheumatoid(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Arthritis,+Juvenile+Rheumatoid%22
- NIH Pediatric Rheumatology Clinic(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Pediatric_Diseases/default.asp
- Genomics Project to Examine Gene Expression Patterns in Pediatric Arthritis(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/News_And_Events/Spotlight_on_Research/2003/gene_ped_arthritis.asp
- Heredity and Arthritis(American College of Rheumatology) - http://www.rheumatology.org/public/factsheets/heredity.asp
- Scientists Find Gene Variant That Increases Susceptibility to Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/News_and_Events/Spotlight_on_Research/2004/gene_jra.asp
- Article: Young people first, juvenile idiopathic arthritis second: transitional care in... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18668608&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Development and validation of a preliminary definition of minimal disease... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18668599&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Bone density, structure, and strength in juvenile idiopathic arthritis: importance... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18668565&tool=MedlinePlus
- Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=arthritis,juvenile+rheumatoid[majr]+AND+(patient+education+handout[pt]+OR+jsubsetk[text]+OR+jsubsetn[text]+OR+jsubsetaim[text]+OR+review[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt])+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- A-Team: A Glossary of Health Professionals(Arthritis Foundation) - http://www.arthritis.org/juvenile-arthritis-team-members.php
- American College of Rheumatology: Geographic Membership Directory(American College of Rheumatology) - http://www.rheumatology.org/directory/geo.asp
- Ease of Use(Arthritis Foundation) - http://www.arthritis.org/ease-of-use.php
- American College of Rheumatology - http://www.rheumatology.org/
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Arthritis Foundation - http://www.arthritis.org/
Also available in Spanish http://ww2.arthritis.org/Espanol/default.asp
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National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases - http://www.niams.nih.gov/
Also available in Spanish http://www.niams.nih.gov/Portal_En_Espanol/
- Arthritis Today(Arthritis Foundation) - http://www.arthritis.org/arthritis-today-magazine.php
- Federal Laws That Can Help(Arthritis Foundation) - http://www.arthritis.org/ja-federal-laws.php
- New Study Uncovers Prevalence, Burden of Pediatric Arthritis in U.S.(Arthritis Foundation) - Links to PDF - http://www.arthritis.org/media/newsroom/news-releases/CDC_peds_press_release_12-4-07.pdf
- Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/kid/health_problems/bone/juv_rheum_arthritis.html
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Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/diseases_conditions/bones/juv_rheumatoid_arthritis.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/enfermedades/juv_rheumatoid_arthritis_esp.html
- Adult Still's Disease(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/adult-stills-disease/DS00792/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Arthritis - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/arthritis.html
- Rheumatoid Arthritis - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/rheumatoidarthritis.html
- Bones, Joints and Muscles - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/bonesjointsandmuscles.html
- Children and Teenagers - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/childrenandteenagers.html
- Immune System - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/immunesystem.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis is the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases - http://www.niams.nih.gov/