Table of contents:
- How does arthritis in children appear?
- What are the symptoms of arthritis in children? Are the symptoms of adults the same?
- What causes arthritis in children?
- Can this type of arthritis in children be cured?
Usually, arthritis attacks people who are elderly (elderly). There are many kinds of arthritis, making the joints in the body ache, painful, and swollen. However, your little one can develop arthritis just like adults. How severe is arthritis in children and what causes it? How to solve it? Check out all the answers below.
How does arthritis in children appear?
Actually rheumatoid arthritis (rheumatoid arthritis) is included in one type of arthritis or arthritis. However, this type of arthritis is more common in elderly people.
Even though they are still in their infancy, children can get arthritis. However, it is indeed a different type from rheumatism. Arthritis in children that you should be aware of is juvenile idiopathic arthritis or rheumatism in children.
It is known that this condition can be experienced by one in 1,000 children, so it can be said that this health problem is not very common in children. Juvenile idiophatic arthritis can affect children under 16 years of age.
What are the symptoms of arthritis in children? Are the symptoms of adults the same?
Most cases of juvenile idiophatic arthritis do not cause any symptoms at first. Also, if there are symptoms that appear, they are usually similar to symptoms of other diseases, so not many people know it is arthritis. Therefore, here are the symptoms of arthritis in children that you should be aware of.
- The joints feel stiff, especially in the morning
- The joint is painful and swollen
- Fever that does not go down, or fever that recurs frequently
- The skin becomes red
- Sudden weight loss
- The eye feels sore and red
- Fatigue
- It's hard to do physical activity
What causes arthritis in children?
Juvenile idiophatic arthritis is actually an autoimmune disease whose exact cause is unknown. However, this disease can arise as a result of an error from the body's immune system which attacks the body's good tissues and cells.
Thus, in children with juvenile idiophatic arthritis, the synovial lining - the lining of the joints that acts as a lubricant for the joints - is damaged due to inflammation. Inflammation of this layer is caused by the immune system attacking this layer, causing inflammation.
Can this type of arthritis in children be cured?
Unfortunately, there is no cure for arthritis in children. However, don't worry, the child will still be given medication. The main goals of treatment are to:
- Relieve pain
- Reduces swelling
- Reduces joint stiffness
- Increase joint strength
- Prevents joints getting damaged
Even so, the treatment that is carried out will depend on the type of arthritis that your little one is experiencing. In some cases, children need to undergo medical surgery to repair the joints that are affected by inflammation.
Meanwhile, drugs that are usually given to children with arthritis, namely:
- Painkillers, like NSAIDs. This medicine is usually given to manage pain and reduce swelling in the joints. Examples of NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen or naproxen.
- Anti-rheumatic drugsThis type of drug is also used to treat swelling and pain that is felt due to inflammation. Usually, this drug will be combined with NSAIDs drugs. Some examples of these drugs are methotrexate (Rheumatrex), hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil), and sulfasalazine (Azulfidine).
- CorticosteroidsThis drug is often used in the form of a liquid that is injected directly into the inflamed joint, if the pain and swelling recur. Actually, this type of drug is available in oral form, but it is not recommended for consumption by children.
- AntimetabolitesThis drug is used to prevent joint damage in the future.
If you really suspect your little one has this health problem, you should immediately take it to a doctor for further examination.
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