When many people mention arthritis, it not uncommon to associate it with old age and this is not entirely incorrect, because some types of arthritis are more common among the elderly. However, arthritis can affect people of all ages, including young children. Arthritis that is found in children is typically referred to as Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA.)

The name Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis can be a little misleading though, because it would be easy to infer that it is the same as adult Rheumatoid Arthritis. However, these diseases are actually quite different. To address this confusion, some doctors or medical texts might refer to the disease as Juvenile Arthritis (JA,) Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA,) or Juvenile Chronic Arthritis (JCA.)

Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis is defined as a case of joint discomfort, stiffness, and inflammation, which is found in a child under 17 years old. In order to be classified as JRA, this discomfort must remain for at least 6 weeks.

Pauciarticular Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis is the most common type of JRA, representing about half of all cases. Pauciarticular JRA is classified as either Early Onset or Late Onset, which describes when it develops.

Early Onset Pauciarticular JRA is about four times more likely to be found in girls, developing before they are 5 years old. Eye inflammation is one of the most common symptoms of this type of JRA.

Boys are more likely to develop Late Onset Pauciarticular JRA, with eye inflammation occurring sometimes, but this is much less common and not usually chronic. Instead, bigger joints are usually affected and a specific gene, HLA-B27, is commonly shared.

Polyarticular Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis is the second most common type of JRA and girls are 66% more likely to develop this type of JRA. Polyarticular JRA usually affects smaller joints, like the toes, but it is not limited to only small joints and can instead affect joints of any size. Typically this type of JRA is divided by whether the child exhibits symptoms similar to Adult Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Systemic Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis is much less common, representing only about 10% of all cases of JRA. Systemic JRA is usually discovered between the ages of 1 and 6, affecting both males and females equally. Systemic Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis is also called Still's Disease and is characterized by fever and skin rashes.

This type of JRA is not limited to only joints and can also affect organs in the body.

Since most children will not complain of joint pain, it can often be tricky to diagnose Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. It is important to watch for abnormal behavior, such as limping, not wanting to go out and play, limited appetite, and fatigue, and speak with a pediatrician if these symptoms are present. Quickly catching the disease is important to reduce its affects on the child.