Childhood arthritis

Childhood arthritis
Other names	Juvenile arthritis, Pediatric rheumatic disease
A child with Still disease, otherwise known as systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis
Specialty	Rheumatology

Childhood arthritis (juvenile arthritis or pediatric rheumatic disease) is an umbrella term used to describe any rheumatic disease or chronic arthritis-related condition which affects individuals under the age of 16. There are several subtypes that differentiate themselves via prognosis, complications, and treatments. Most types are autoimmune disorders, where an individual's immune system may attack its own healthy tissues and cells.^[1][2]

Diagnosis of juvenile idiopathic arthritis is typically considered for children that are below the age of 16 years old and currently experiencing arthritis for at least six weeks with no other evident alternative causes for the symptoms.^[3] In 1997 the International League of Associations for Rheumatology (ILAR) presented a classification of juvenile idiopathic arthritis. This was later revised in 2001. In this classification juvenile idiopathic arthritis is the umbrella term and comprises seven categories: systemic arthritis, oligoarthritis, polyarthritis (reumatic factor negative), polyarthritis (reumatic factor positive), psoriatic arthritis, enthesitis related arthritis and undifferntiatied arthritis.^[4]

Juvenile arthritis may last for a few months, years, or becomes a lifelong disease that requires treatment as the child becomes an adult.^[5] Common complications that can arise include leg-length discrepancy, joint contracture, growth retardation, low bone mineral density, and macrophage activation syndrome.^[6]

Some causes or potential risk factors denoting a higher chance of developing childhood arthritis have been identified.^[7] However, similar to other autoimmune diseases, the exact cause or mechanism for development is still largely unknown and additional associations are continuously being researched and discovered.^[8]