Why Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis is Difficult to Diagnose

It may come as a surprise that children can develop arthritis too, but one out of every 1000 children who are between six weeks and sixteen years of age develop arthritis. Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) is most common in preschoolers and teenagers. If a Black child develops juvenile idiopathic arthritis, he or she is more likely to suffer severe joint damage than whites. There have been several advancements in the treatments for JIA. However, the condition is often difficult to diagnose.

JIA more common in girls

Gender also appears to play a major role in JIA.

“Experts believe there are two main reasons for the gender differences in Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA). Firstly, girls get autoimmune diseases in greater numbers than boys. Another reason is it appears that hormones do play important role in developing such conditions,” explains Dr. Shreedhar Archik, Senior Consultant, Orthopaedics and Joint Replacement, Global Hospitals.

Dr. Archik says most cases of juvenile arthritis are sporadic and appear in children who have no history of the disorder in their family.

RELATED: Does Your Child Have Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis?

Why is JIA difficult to diagnose?

JIA is difficult to diagnose because the symptoms significantly overlap with other diseases, such as joint infection, malignancy, metabolic bone diseases etc.

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Additionally, there is no single test that is able to confirm a diagnosis. However, tests can rule out the possibility of other conditions. According to research, about 76 percent of JIA cases have a delayed diagnosis by about 3 months.

Delayed diagnosis leads to delayed treatment and the worsening of symptoms. This can result in children suffering deformities that carry into adulthood.

A child can develop the following conditions from delayed treatment:

• Frequent flare-ups
• Growth retardation
• Joint contractures
• Muscle weakness and loss
• Osteoporosis
• Eye problems

How to help your child

If you spot the following symptoms, you should get your child checked out by a doctor:

• Swollen joints
• Morning stiffness
• Pain in the joints
• Rash and fever
• Tenderness in the joints
• Weight loss
• Loss of energy and feeling weak
• Blurred vision

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If your child’s pediatrician suspects that your child has juvenile idiopathic arthritis, he or she may refer you to a doctor who specializes in arthritis (rheumatologist) to confirm the diagnosis and explore treatment.

It may help to prepare for the appointment by writing down a list of the important information you want to go over during the appointment. This information can better help doctors determine exactly what is going on with your child.

The Mayo Clinic suggests including the following in the list:

• Detailed descriptions of your child’s symptoms
• Information about medical problems your child has had in the past
• Information about the medical problems that tend to run in your family
• All the medications and dietary supplements your child takes
• Your child’s immunization status
• Questions you want to ask the doctor

It may also help to prepare for the following questions, which doctors commonly ask:

• Which joints appear to be affected?
• When did the symptoms begin? Do they seem to come and go?
• Does anything make the symptoms better or worse?
• Is the joint stiffness worse after a period of rest?

RELATED: What are the Newest Treatments for Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA)?

Although there is no cure for juvenile idiopathic arthritis, the treatment strategies that have been developed in recent years can greatly reduce disease severity and improve the quality of life for your child.