Topic Overview

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), formerly called juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) or juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA), is a disease that affects children age 16 and younger. It causes inflamed, swollen, stiff, and often painful joints. JIA may affect one or more joints and can cause a generalized illness.

The cause of JIA is unknown. Most experts believe it may be caused by a combination of the following factors:

• An overly active immune system that inappropriately attacks joint tissues, as if they were a foreign substance. Viral or bacterial infections are a suspected trigger of the autoimmune process.
• Genetic factors that make a child's immune system more likely to react inappropriately

Common symptoms of JIA include:

• Joint pain and swelling that may come and go but are most often persistent.
• Joint stiffness in the morning.
• Irritability, refusal to walk, or protection or guarding of a joint. You might notice your child limping or avoiding the use of a certain joint.
• Often unpredictable changes in symptoms, from periods with no symptoms (remission) to flare-ups.

A child with JIA will likely be treated with a combination of medicines and physiotherapy. The goals of medical treatment are to reduce your child's joint pain and to prevent disability.

For more information, see the topic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis.