What Is Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Definition:

Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA) is an autoimmune disease of unknown cause acquired at or before the age of 16. The immune system's attack on the body causes swelling and pain in the joints, and possibly in internal organs as well. There are three types of Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis: Pauciarticular, the most common, which involves four or fewer joints; Polyarticular, which strikes about a third of children with JRA and involves five or more joints; and Systemic (sometimes called Still's Disease), the least common, which can involve both joints and internal organs, as well as the skin. Lab tests, X-rays, and examination of symptoms are typically used to diagnose JRA and differentiate the type. Some children outgrow JRA, while others will continue to have arthritis-related problems as adults.

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Also Known As: Juvenile Ideopathic Arthritis, Juvenile Arthritis