Rheumatology diseases are conditions or disorders that affect the connecting structures of the body. It is an inflammatory condition and these are mostly occurred on the joints and also on the ligaments and muscles of the body. Juvenile arthritis is a type of rheumatology arthritis that makes swelling or inflammation in the tissue lining. This condition is commonly found in children under the age of 16. This disease has no symptoms but, sometimes it will exhibit some symptoms like joint stiffness, swelling, persistent fever, etc.
Causes of Juvenile Arthritis
It is an autoimmune disease, that is, it is caused by the malfunctioning of the immune system. The immune system is present in our body to protect our system from alien substances that can potentially harm the body. But in some cases, the same immune system will malfunction and create damages to both tissues and bones of the person. Juvenile arthritis is caused due to such a condition. Even though the reason for the damage of the immune system is still unknown, it is believed that it is caused due to genetic disorder and also due to environmental triggers like infections.
How it Can be Diagnosed
Since there are no specific symptoms for juvenile arthritis and some common symptoms are associated with other diseases, diagnosing such condition will be difficult. There are no tests to diagnose this condition in a child. The only way to diagnose juvenile arthritis in a person is by checking the complete medical history of the patient. Some tests like x-ray and blood culture can also help in diagnosing this condition in a child. A test for rheumatologic factor or some specific antibodies is also helpful in identifying this condition in a patient.
How Can It Be Treated
The treatment protocol for juvenile arthritis includes both medications and exercise. The treatment for this condition is not only to cure the condition but also to suppress its symptoms. There are many medicines used for the treatment of juvenile arthritis and most of them are for reducing pain, and inflammation or swelling. The exercises that are recommended for the patients suffering from this condition is mainly focused on improving flexibility and also to improve the strength of both bones and muscles. The treatment for conditions like polyarticular juvenile arthritis is more complex than normal juvenile arthritis.
