As a parent, the last thing you want to worry about is your child having to endure any type of hurt, harm, danger or sickness. You feel the need to protect them from all the dangers that may be out there and though it would be amazing to be a superhero to your child, unfortunately, there are some things you as a parent just can’t prevent. Certain medical conditions and illnesses are examples of that because regardless of what you do, the body works on its own terms. Children can be diagnosed with cancer at a young age, or rare diseases because of genetic defects. Children can even be diagnosed with arthritis and yes you read that correctly. Juvenile idiopathic arthritis is unfortunately what many children are subjected to.
When you think of someone being diagnosed with arthritis, you would think it was someone who was older, maybe in the age of retirement but that’s not always the case.
Young adults and children can be diagnosed with arthritis as well, so what is juvenile idiopathic arthritis? Well having the former name of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, it’s the most common type of arthritis that can be found in children 16 years and younger.
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis develops when the body’s immune system starts to attack its own healthy cells. If you keep up with us here at BDO, then you know one’s immune system attacking its healthy cells can cause many other serious medical problems.
RELATED: Why Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis is Difficult to Diagnose
When living with juvenile idiopathic arthritis, the impact it has on your child’s life can be mild and moderate or extreme. This type of arthritis causes swelling, joint pain and stiffness. It can lead to serious complications like something such as inflammation in the eye. Inflammation in the eye if untreated, can lead to glaucoma, cataracts and possibly blindness. Juvenile arthritis can also cause severe damage to the joints and cause problems with a child’s growth and bone development. Juvenile idiopathic arthritis is also found more commonly in young girls than in young boys.
When living with this type of arthritis at a young age, your child is bound to deal with symptoms. Joint swelling is one of the most common symptoms your child may face and is usually felt in the knee. Other symptoms are joint pain and stiffness.
Some children may even deal with swollen lymph nodes, rashes or even high fever. Some children experience their symptoms for only a few months while other children may experience their symptoms for years.
The most important thing to do first is to identify what these symptoms may look like. Pay attention to your child and how they walk when they wake up in the morning or from a nap.
If you notice them limping, they’re experiencing joint pain. Also, monitor where and how often your child is experiencing problems with their joints.
If you notice that they limp often or express that they feel a lot of stiffness in the knee area with no back story as to why they may be feeling that way, then that may be a sign of juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
Once you notice that these problems are occurring frequently, it’s time to reach out to a doctor and express the symptoms your child is suffering from and your concerns.
RELATED: What Are the Most Common Symptoms of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis?
As scary as the diagnosis may be for both you and your child, it’s important to know that things will be okay. Your child will be able to continue living life as a child, they’ll just have to be a bit more aware and mindful. What you can do as their parent or guardian is to treat them the same way you were before their diagnosis.
Yes, things may be different now, but that doesn’t have to be seen as a bad thing. Try to schedule frequent appointments with your child’s ophthalmologist for examination since this medical issue can have serious effects on the eyes. Make sure to closely monitor symptoms and take medication as prescribed.
Also, pay attention to how the medication is affecting your child. Certain medications used to treat juvenile idiopathic arthritis can have some damaging effects on your child’s growth so be sure to keep details like this in mind.
Though certain things in life cannot be prevented when it comes to protecting your child, there is so much you can do to help them get through it.
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