Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) is the term used to describe various types of chronic arthritis in children under the age of 16 years. It is also known as Juvenile Chronic Arthritis or Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis.

This is a disease of the immune system that affects multiple joints in the body, causing pain, stiffness and swelling in the affected joints.

The body’s immune system usually fights foreign bacteria, viruses and diseased cells in the body. In JIA, the immune system attacks the joints and their surrounding tissues, which become inflamed. The continual attack by the immune system causes damage to the joints over time. As the condition progresses, the inflammation, pain and stiffness of the joints tend to increase in severity, ultimately leading to deformity of joints and loss of overall mobility.

In the case of juvenile arthritis, the synovial membrane that covers the joints becomes the target of the immune system’s attack which leads to destruction of the bone and cartilage of the joint.

Any child can get affected by arthritis. By definition, the symptoms of JIA may start before the 16th birthday.