Arthritis: it’s a condition each of us has heard of, but do we all know exactly what it is means? According to the Mayo Clinic, arthritis is the swelling and tenderness of one or more of your joints. The main symptoms are pain and stiffness, which can worsen with age. The two most common types are osteoarthritis, which causes cartilage to break down, and rheumatoid arthritis, which attacks the joints, beginning with the lining. One rather common type of arthritis that may not typically come to mind, however, is juvenile arthritis. Currently, there are an estimated 300,000 children in the US who experience some type of juvenile arthritis. That evens out to avoid 1 in 250 kids. It is one of the most common childhood diseases in the United States. There are three classifications of juvenile arthritis, including juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile chronic arthritis, and juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Juvenile rheumatoid is most common. Juvenile arthritis can take a real physical and emotional toll on children with the condition. They may experience debilitating pain, even gastrointestinal issues and feelings of loneliness, which may ultimately result in depression. The most common symptoms of juvenile arthritis may include, but are not limited to:
- Painful joins that may make themselves known in the morning, and may improve by the afternoon
- Joint swelling and pain. Young children may be irritable and not want to play
- Juvenile arthritis may cause swelling of lymph nodes
- In certain cases, children may show a high fever and a light pink rash
- Some children with juvenile arthritis may have problems with their vision and eyes. This is called iridocyclitis, treatable by an ophthalmologist. Most patients do not have any symptoms with iridocyclitis and the only way to diagnose this early is by slit lamp examination.
As we have covered extensively here on our website, negative coping mechanisms to mental health conditions can cause an individual to turn to substances, which may ultimately create substance abuse problems. Some children may begin to abuse substances by the age of 12. It is important that, should your child be facing this condition, their mental health is well and consistently managed. There is currently no cure for juvenile arthritis but treatment includes managing the pain. Additionally, juvenile arthtiris may be managed by alternative medicine, physical therapy, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), and corticosteroids. When using corticosterioids or steroids of other classes, the recipient should be careful to become dependent, or suffer through experiencing withdrawals. Tishanna Dillard, Marketing Operations Specialist
If you or someone you know is suffering from addiction, give us a call at the Top of the World Ranch in Milan, Illinois. Come join us at our beautiful ranch. We can be reached at (844) 814-8885, or you can email [email protected]