Types of Arthritis (Cont.)

 
Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (also known as just juvenile arthritis) is arthritis that causes joint inflammation and stiffness for more than six weeks in a child of 16 years of age or less. Inflammation causes redness, swelling, and soreness in the joints and can limit the mobility of those affected areas (see Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms).
 
Doctors generally classify juvenile rheumatoid arthritis into three categories according to the number of joints involved, the symptoms, and the presence or absence of certain antibodies (see Types of Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis).
 
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis affects about 200,000 Americans. Most children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis need medication, exercise, and physical therapy (see Treatment for Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis). With treatment, a number of children recover completely; others remain affected throughout their lives.
 
Lupus Arthritis
Systemic lupus erythematosus involves skin, joints, muscles, and sometimes internal organs. Also called lupus or SLE, this condition can be mild or life-threatening. Lupus symptoms usually appear in women of childbearing age but can occur in anyone at any age. Lupus affects at least 131,000 Americans. It also affects 9 to 10 times as many women as men.
 
Ankylosing Spondylitis
Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the spine that can result in fused vertebrae and a rigid spine. It can, however, affect other areas of the body. Some of these other areas include the hips, shoulders, and knees, as well as the tendons and ligaments around the bones and joints (see Ankylosing Spondylitis Symptoms).
 
Approximately 350,000 people in the United States have ankylosing spondylitis. The disease affects men more often than women. Symptoms of the disease may start in adolescence and are usually present by age 30. In some people, ankylosing spondylitis can cause significant pain and disability for many years.
(Types of Arthritis Continued: Page 5)

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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD