Types of JA:
- Juvenile idiopathic arthritis
- Juvenile dermatomyositis
- Juvenile lupus
- Juvenile scleroderma
- Kawasaki disease
- Mixed connective tissue disease
- Fibromyalgia
Causes and Treatment:
There are no known causes of JA, however there is research pointing towards genetics that flag people to be more susceptible. There is no cure for it, however proper and quick diagnosis of the disease. An accurate and thorough physical exam is the only way to be able to diagnose a specific type of JA. Blood tests will only be helpful once the type of JA is identified by the physician. A typical plan to treat any of the types of JA include healthy eating, physical activity, pain relief via medication, and eye care.
Awareness and Foundations:
The Arthritis Foundation hold many resources for those with arthritis of all kinds, as well as a specific portion of the website that focused on juvenile arthritis called “Kids Get Arthritis Too”. The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Disease also has resources available for those who are interested in learning more about the diseases that fall under JA.
Links to resources:
http://www.arthritis.org/about-arthritis/types/juvenile-arthritis/
https://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Juv_Arthritis/juvenile_arthritis_ff.asp
http://www.kidsgetarthritistoo.org
Sources:
Welcome to KidsGetArthritisToo.org. (n.d.). Retrieved June 30, 2017, from http://www.kidsgetarthritistoo.org/
Juvenile Arthritis. (n.d.). Retrieved June 30, 2017, from http://www.arthritis.org/about-arthritis/types/juvenile-arthritis/