image source: joint-pain-solutions.com
If you are a healthy person, your immune system acts as the body’s protector. It is the one responsible for identifying the pathogens and tumor cells that could cause infections and illnesses and then prevent them from entering your body. But when your immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own cells, you are already suffering from an autoimmune disorder. There are so many diseases that are categorized under autoimmune disorder because of their unknown cause. A good example for this is the juvenile arthritis (JA).
Juvenile arthritis is one of the most common childhood diseases in the United States. Based on data provided by arthritis.org, about 294,000 kids in America are being affected by the said disease. When we speak of juvenile arthritis, it refers to a chronic condition that involves inflammation in one or more joints of children ages 16 and below. It is not a contagious disease. But because the symptoms range from mild to severe, which could affect the entire life of a youngster, protecting your child from the said type of arthritis is imperative. And since the whole July is being observed in US healthcare as the Juvenile Arthritis Awareness month, I decided tackle about JA and share what are the steps you can do to help your child if ever he/she is one of those who have the said disorder.
A child can only be identified as positive for JA after the doctor has get the patient’s medical history, performed physical exam, and do some lab tests. Aside from that, some doctors would also use certain hospital medical equipment called X-ray to determine joint deformities especially if the patient is already experiencing severe symptoms. Common symptoms of JA include persistent pain, swelling, tenderness, and stiffness of joints. These are all because of damage joints. Aside from joint pain, a juvenile diagnosed to have arthritis especially if it is already affecting the entire body may also have high fever and skin rash.
As mentioned earlier, JA is a chronic disease and that means a lifelong condition. But through proper and immediate care management, symptoms may gradually lessen or disappear as they enter the adulthood. So if you are one of those parents who have a kid complaining about joint pain or is at risk for JA, it would be beneficial if as early as now you are going to bring him/her to a pediatric rheumatologist who will look at your child medical history to find signs of JA. If ever your kid is positive for the said disorder, the pediatric rheumatologist often prescribes nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) to relieve inflamed joint. Meanwhile for patient whose JA is already in moderate to severe cases, more powerful medications or a combination of medicines are prescribed. Aside from that, you can also help improve the condition of your child’s joints by following the recommended treatment plans of his/her medical specialist. Often, doctors for JA advised the patients to improve their physically activity, undergo physical and/or occupational therapy for better range of motion, visit the ophthalmologist for eye care and dentist for dental care. Last but not the least, ensure proper nutrition. The ideal diets for children with JA are those that will control or reduce joint inflammation such as low-carb diet, lean protein diet as well as foods rich in mono and polysaturated fats.
Juvenile arthritis is one of the most common childhood diseases in the United States. Based on data provided by arthritis.org, about 294,000 kids in America are being affected by the said disease. When we speak of juvenile arthritis, it refers to a chronic condition that involves inflammation in one or more joints of children ages 16 and below. It is not a contagious disease. But because the symptoms range from mild to severe, which could affect the entire life of a youngster, protecting your child from the said type of arthritis is imperative. And since the whole July is being observed in US healthcare as the Juvenile Arthritis Awareness month, I decided tackle about JA and share what are the steps you can do to help your child if ever he/she is one of those who have the said disorder.
A child can only be identified as positive for JA after the doctor has get the patient’s medical history, performed physical exam, and do some lab tests. Aside from that, some doctors would also use certain hospital medical equipment called X-ray to determine joint deformities especially if the patient is already experiencing severe symptoms. Common symptoms of JA include persistent pain, swelling, tenderness, and stiffness of joints. These are all because of damage joints. Aside from joint pain, a juvenile diagnosed to have arthritis especially if it is already affecting the entire body may also have high fever and skin rash.
As mentioned earlier, JA is a chronic disease and that means a lifelong condition. But through proper and immediate care management, symptoms may gradually lessen or disappear as they enter the adulthood. So if you are one of those parents who have a kid complaining about joint pain or is at risk for JA, it would be beneficial if as early as now you are going to bring him/her to a pediatric rheumatologist who will look at your child medical history to find signs of JA. If ever your kid is positive for the said disorder, the pediatric rheumatologist often prescribes nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) to relieve inflamed joint. Meanwhile for patient whose JA is already in moderate to severe cases, more powerful medications or a combination of medicines are prescribed. Aside from that, you can also help improve the condition of your child’s joints by following the recommended treatment plans of his/her medical specialist. Often, doctors for JA advised the patients to improve their physically activity, undergo physical and/or occupational therapy for better range of motion, visit the ophthalmologist for eye care and dentist for dental care. Last but not the least, ensure proper nutrition. The ideal diets for children with JA are those that will control or reduce joint inflammation such as low-carb diet, lean protein diet as well as foods rich in mono and polysaturated fats.
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