Information Surrounding The Juvenile Arthritis Foundation
Arthritis is a serious inflammation of the joints that can be very painful and the area can swell and feel hot. This condition can be temporary lasting for a few months or it can last for a lifetime and it can be mild or chronic. Several years ago it was believed that only adults had this medical condition but now it’s well-known that it can affect children as well. In fact, about three hundred thousand children have been diagnosed with some type of arthritis in the United States and around fifty thousand of them have juvenile rheumatoid arthritis or JRA. To the families of these children the juvenile arthritis foundation is an invaluable resource.
That’s a lot of cases for a disease that was once believed to only affect adults. JRA is an autoimmune disease and it’s not clear why children can get it. What happens when someone has this condition is the white blood cells can’t tell the difference between the healthy cells in the body and the bacteria or virus that enters the system. This causes the immune system to release chemicals into the body that damages healthy tissues, which result in pain and inflammation.
There are three types of RJA called Oligoarticular JRA, Polyarticular arthritis and Systemic JRA. In order to manage these diseases better, they need to be detected as early as possible. Knowing the early symptoms of arthritis will make early detection possible. It’s also important for the patient and the rest of the family to understand the symptoms so they can continue to live an active and productive life. The symptoms can appear when the child is as young as six months old or as late as age sixteen or anywhere in-between. Some of the signs that indicate arthritis include sore fingers, knees and wrist. The affected joints will feel warm, swell and feel stiff. Sometimes a rash will appear and disappear randomly. Your health care provider can do a series of test to determine if your child has RJA, which includes a physical exam, X-rays and blood test. It can be treated with physical therapy, exercise, medication and in serious cases, corticosteroids injections or surgery may be necessary.
The Juvenile Arthritis Foundation was designed to help children with rheumatic diseases. The members are made up of volunteers, parents, health care professionals and anyone else who has ever been impacted in any way by juvenile arthritis. It’s responsible for initiating many research projects, grants and scholarships to help juveniles with arthritis and their families learn how to deal with this condition and take the best care of themselves as possible. Information on herbal remedies for rheumatoid arthritis can also be found there.
The Juvenile Arthritis Foundation aquatic program provides an excellent environment for patients to relieve some of the pain and stiffness associated with this condition. When a person has arthritis, they need to keep their joints moving in order to keep them loose and reduce the pain. Without exercise, the joints will stiffen up and they will become even more painful. When you exercise in warm water it allows you to keep your joints and muscles flexible without putting excess strain on them. The trained professionals provide instructions to help ensure the safety of all patients.
