KEY POINTS
- Childhood arthritis can cause pain, stiffness, joint or body swelling, and life-long damage to joints.
- Symptoms may go away or continue into adulthood.
- While there is no cure for childhood arthritis, there are ways to manage and treat it.
Overview
Arthritis that develops in children is called childhood arthritis (or juvenile arthritis).
Childhood arthritis begins when the immune system becomes overactive, leading to joint and body swelling.
Childhood arthritis can cause pain, loss of motion, and permanent damage in the joints.
- This can make it hard for a child to walk, play, or dress themselves.
- It can also result in disability.
Living with childhood arthritis
About 220,000 U.S. children under 18 have arthritis. Childhood arthritis is more common among certain groups in the United States, including children who are Black or African American and whose parents have lower levels of education.
Signs and symptoms
The symptoms of childhood arthritis may be different for every child. They can include:
- Joint pain.
- Swelling.
- Fever.
- Stiffness.
- Rash.
- Feeling tired.
- Loss of appetite.
There may be times when symptoms get worse, known as “flares.” There may also be times when symptoms get better, known as “remission.”
Causes
The causes of childhood arthritis are not known.
Who gets childhood arthritis
Any child can develop arthritis. But arthritis is more common in children who:
- Have anxiety or depression.
- Have a heart condition.
- Have overweight.
- Are not physically active.
- Live with people who smoke.
Diagnosis
Symptoms of childhood arthritis might seem like other illnesses and injuries.
A pediatric rheumatologist, who specializes in childhood arthritis, can help figure out the right diagnosis.
These doctors can diagnose childhood arthritis by doing:
- A physical exam.
- X-rays.
- Lab tests.
- A review of health history.
Find a childhood arthritis specialist near you
Visit the Arthritis Foundation for tips on finding a rheumatologist that best meets the needs of your child.
Management
To help manage arthritis, doctors may prescribe medicine and advise children to be physically active.
This may include exercises like those recommended by the Arthritis Foundation:
- Water exercises (like shoulder shrugs and ankle circles).
- Swimming.
- Bicycling.
- Tai chi.
- Yoga.
Visit the Arthritis Foundation’s Juvenile Arthritis web page for more information.