Most arthritis in children is inflammatory and not degenerative. There are a several distinct diseases that can cause inflammatory arthritis in children but the most common is juvenile idiopathic arthritis, also known as Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis.

"Funding for arthritis research in children from the federal government is very low, which limits the research being done on these diseases. The amount of money being spent is $23 per child with arthritis. Federal legislation is needed to make arthritis research a priority.

"The Arthritis Prevention Control and Cure Act of 2005 has been introduced to both the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate for consideration this session to enhance research funding, among other things that will benefit people with arthritis. Congressmen Leach, Boswell and Latham have co-sponsored the House version of the bill and Senator Grassley has signed on as a co-sponsor for the Senate version," says Ferguson.

To learn more about this legislative effort, call the Iowa Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation at 866-378-0636.

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis is a group of diseases that are lumped under one large category. What they have in common is chronic arthritis without an identifiable cause. "No one knows the cause, " Ferguson says, "but we know that there is a genetic component to the disease that allows the immune system to become dysregulated promoting chronic inflammation."

Symptoms include swollen, sometimes warm joints and morning stiffness that lasts longer than an hour. Children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis who are cared for by general pediatricians alone are under treated. "The best outcome is when a pediatric rheumatologist cares for a child," Ferguson says.

Treatment depends on severity, says Ferguson. The mildest forms are often treated with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug alone. Most, however, need more than an NSAID. Treatment options include injecting the joint with steroids, use of drugs that suppress inflammation including anti-malarial drugs and drugs that are often used to treat cancer but used in lower doses. All treatment is aimed at quieting the chronic inflammatory state of the immune system.

Children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis don't usually need to limit their activities. "We encourage children to be active," says Ferguson. "The one case where specific activities need to be restricted is in the case of a child with arthritis that affects the cervical spine. These children should not participate in gymnastics, jump on a trampoline, play football or wrestling--sports that would put their neck at risk of a serious injury."

Children with arthritis may grow up to be adults with arthritis, or they may outgrow the disease.

For more information:

Polly Ferguson, M.D.

Arthritis Foundation