Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis develop when the immune system of body attacks its own cells and tissues. Its cause is unknown but both environmental and heredity factors play a role. Some gene mutations can make a person more prone to environmental factors as viruses which can stimulate thedisease.

Some types of juvenile arthritis are common in girls.

The common signs and symptoms of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis are as follows:

• Pain: Even if your child does not complain of joint pain, you can observe that he or she limps especially after a nap or in the morning.
• Swelling: Joint swelling is a common symptom which is firstly noticed in large joints like the knee.
• Stiffness: You might notice that your child appears clumsier than usual, particularly in the morning or after naps.

Diagnosis of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis can be done by the help of following tests:

Blood Tests : Following are the common blood tests which are done for diagnose of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis are as follows:

• Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR): An elevated sedimentation rate of erythrocyte indicates inflammation.
• C-reactive protein: This test also measures the levels of inflammation but on a different rule than the ESR.
• Anti-nuclear antibody: Generally the people with autoimmune diseases produce anti-nuclear antibodies which are proteins. Thus this test can help to reveal the presence of an auto immune disease.
• Rheumatoid factor: This antibody is commonly found in the blood of children who have rheumatoid arthritis.
• Cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP): The CCP is also an antibody which may be found in the children with rheumatoid arthritis.

Many times no abnormality is seen in these tests in children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

Imaging Scans : X-rays or MRI are taken to detect other conditions as fractures, tumors or infection. These tests can also be used for the time to time diagnosis of bone development and to detect any joint damage.

Following are the treatments for juvenile rheumatoid arthritis that can help your child in maintaining a normal physical and social activity:

Medications for Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): Medicines such as Ibuprofen and Naproxen can decrease the pain and swelling.
• Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs): These medicines are prescribed by the doctor when the NSAIDs alone fail to provide relief from symptoms of swelling and joint pain. Methotrexate and Sulfasalazine are the common DMARDs that are used in children.
• Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers: TNF blockers as Etanercept and Adalimumab may provide relief from the pain, swollen joints and morning stiffness.
• Immune suppressants: These medicines can help your child as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is caused by the over activeness of immune system. Abatacept, Rituximab or Anakinra are the commonly prescribed Immune suppressants.
• Corticosteroids: Medications as Prednisone can control symptoms and they prevent complications like inflammation of the sac around the heart.

Therapies for Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis

• Physical therapist: A physical therapist can help to keep joints flexible and maintain muscle tone and motion.
• Occupational therapist: An occupational therapist can suggest protective equipment for your child as the use of joint supports or splints to protect joints.

Surgery for Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis

Only in the severe cases of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, surgery can be required to improve the joint position.

Alternative Treatments for Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis

• Ayurvedic medicines: Boswellia Curcumin, Ammvatantak churna and Ashwagandha churna are the commonly recommended medicines for juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
• Homeopathy: Abrotanum, Apis, Belladonna, Bryonia and Aconite are the common herbs present in the homeopathic medicines.
• Acupuncture: Acupuncture is advised in the condition of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis to overcome the inflammation.

Dietary Supplements for Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis

Dietary supplements mean the products that include minerals, herbs, vitamins, and many other nutrients that have a significant role in the maintenance of health. They are available as pills, energy bars, drinks, capsules, and powders. For juvenile arthritis GLME is the best dietary supplement that can decrease the joint pain and other symptoms.

• GLME (Green Lipped Mussel Extract): GLME (Green lipped mussel extract) is the most recommended dietary supplement for juvenile rheumatoid arthritis which is extracted from the green lipped mussels. Green lipped mussel is a shell fish which is grown in the farms of New Zealand. It has shown a great role against the juvenile rheumatoid arthritis as it is quite safe due to its marine origin.

GLME (Green lipped mussel extract) has unique role in the treatment and management of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis as below:

• It lubricates the joints and thus increases the joint mobility. It prevents the joint deterioration and repairs the cartilages which are damaged.
• It helps other medicines to show their maximum efficacy.
• It protects the stomach lining from the severe reactions of medicines that are used in the treatment of juvenile arthritis.
• It controls the process of inflammation by undergoing several mechanisms and decreases the swelling, pain, and inflammation.

Seatone is the best preparation of GLME (green lipped mussel extract) which is accessible as capsules. Seatone is the safest GLME product because:

• It is extracted only from the top quality of fresh mussels at their peak condition. Their harvesting is done at the best times of year.
• A number of tests are conducted to check the toxicity of Seatone. Seatone is made available to you after several tests and trials.

Seatone is a produced from natural source therefore it does not show any side effects. It protects the stomach lining by acting as gastro-protective. Even if the medicines used for arthritis can provide you fast relief from pain and swelling but their effect may be temporary. On the other side Seatone provides gradual but progressive relief from the symptoms of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis which is generally long lasting. Moreover medicines used in the treatment of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis show a number of side effects as below:

• DMARDs: They generally show side effects as nausea and liver problems.
• NSAIDs: They generally cause stomach upset and liver problems.
• Immune suppressants: Immune suppressants elevate the risk of some cancers and infections.
• Corticosteroids: They may interfere with normal growth and increase the risk of infection.
• Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers: They increase the risk of infections and rarely can cause the risk of some cancers.

Following things can help your child to manage with the condition of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis:

• Exercise: To maintain the muscle strength and joint flexibility exercises as swimming can help you.
• Applying cold or heat: Stiffness can be decreased by cold packs or hot pack or hot bath or shower.
• Eating well: A healthy and nutritious diet will help your child to maintain an appropriate weight. Enough calcium in the diet can prevent the risk of weak bones.

The cause of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is not exactly known therefore it cannot be prevented however treatment can help you to prevent symptoms.

Approximately 50% of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis patients continue to have active disease into adulthood. Such patients suffer significant disability with functional limitations. The prognosis is dependent on the duration of disease. In the US and Canada, death is rare as 29 out of 10,000 patients.