July is:
Juvenile Arthritis MonthWhat is Juvenile Arthritis?Juvenile arthritis
(JA) is not a disease in itself. Also known as pediatric rheumatic disease, JA is an umbrella term used to describe the
many autoimmune and inflammatory conditions or pediatric rheumatic diseases that can develop in children under the age
of 16. Juvenile arthritis affects nearly 300,000 children in the United States. Although the various types of juvenile
arthritis share many common symptoms, like pain, joint swelling, redness and warmth, each type of JA is distinct and has its
own special concerns and symptoms. Some types of juvenile arthritis affect the musculoskeletal system, but joint
symptoms may be minor or nonexistent. Juvenile arthritis can also involve the eyes, skin, muscles and gastrointestinal
tract. Types of Juvenile Arthritis- Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Considered the most common form of arthritis, JIA includes six subtypes: oligoarthritis, polyarthritis, systemic,
enthesitis-related, juvenile psoriatic arthritis or undifferentiated.
- Juvenile dermatomyositis. An inflammatory disease, juvenile dermatomyositis causes muscle weakness and a skin rash on the eyelids and knuckles.
- Juvenile lupus. Lupus is an autoimmune disease. The most common form is systemic lupus erythematosus, or SLE. Lupus can affect
the joints, skin, kidneys, blood and other areas of the body.
- Juvenile scleroderma. Scleroderma, which literally means “hard skin,” describes a group of conditions that causes the skin
to tighten and harden.
- Kawasaki disease. This disease causes blood-vessel inflammation that can lead to heart complications.
- Mixed connective tissue disease. This disease may include features of arthritis, lupus dermatomyositis and scleroderma, and is associated with very
high levels of a particular antinuclear antibody called anti-RNP.
- Fibromyalgia. This chronic pain syndrome is an arthritis-related condition, which can cause stiffness and aching, along with
fatigue, disrupted sleep and other symptoms. More common in girls, fibromyalgia is seldom diagnosed before puberty.
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Nutrition and Disease Prevention
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