Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms

Among children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, the disease often includes symptoms such as persistent joint swelling, pain, and stiffness that is usually worse after sleeping. Other signs and symptoms can include decreased range of motion within affected joints, spiking fevers, an unexplained rash, and inflammation in other organs (such as the eyes). In many cases, symptoms will improve or disappear after several months or years.

An Overview of Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis Signs and Symptoms

About 50,000 children in the United States have
 juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). Symptoms of the condition can vary, and so can their severity. For example, one child may have a sore wrist or swollen finger, while another may have many painful joints and a rash and fever that come and go.
 
In general, symptoms of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis may include one or several of the following:
 
  • Joint swelling and pain
  • Decreased range of motion within the affected joints
  • Problems of growth and development
  • Spiking fevers
  • Unexplained rash
  • Inflammation within other organs, such as the heart or eyes.
 
By diagnosing the type of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis a child has (see Types of Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis), healthcare providers will have a better idea of what to expect, along with the possible complications that may occur in each individual.
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
 
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