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Children with arthritis

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What types are there?

As many as 12,000 children in the UK are affected by juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).

There are three main types:

  • Systemic JIA (Still’s disease), (accounts for 20% of cases). Starts with a high fever, patchy red rash,enlarged lymph nodes, abdominal pain and weight loss.
  • Oligoarthritis, is the most common type of JIA accounting for 50% of new diagnoses in Europe each year.  It is diagnosed when 4 or fewer joints are affected in the first 6 months of disease. 
  • Polyarticular onset JIA, also known as polyarthritis accounts for 25% of new diagnoses and is diagnosed when 5 or more joints are affected in the first 6 months of disease.  After 6 months from diagnosis, if 5 or more joints become affected it is then referred to as polyarticular-course JIA.  Polyarthritis can be further divided into rheumatoid factor negative arthritis, and rheumatoid factor positive arthritis.  Polyarthritis includes who are diagnosed with polyarticular JIA, but who then have more joints affected after 6 months also known as extended oligoarticular JIA.
  • Juvenile psoriatic arthritis (JPsA), accounts for 2 - 15% of new diagnoses and is diagnosed when there is joint pain association with psoriasis. 

Juvenile psoriatic arthritis is sometimes thought of as part of the spectrum of juvenile chronic arthritis summarised above but others regard it as a separate disease to be distinguished from these, having more in common with reactive arthritis and juvenile ankylosing spondylitis.

The Vancouver criteria for diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis in childhood are a useful guide:

Definite psoriatic arthritis

  • Arthritis with 3 of the 4 following minor criteria
    • Dactylitis (pink swollen “sausage” finger or toe)
    • Nail pitting or onycholysis (splitting and breaking up of nail)
    • Psoriasis-like rash
    • Family history of psoriasis in first or second degree relatives

Probable psoriatic arthritis

  • Arthritis with 2 of the 4 criteria listed above

There is a tendency for girls to be more likely to be to be affected than boys. Simultaneous onset of rash and arthritis is rather uncommon. As in the adult variety the end joints of the fingers are commonly involved. Generally, in juvenile chronic arthritis this does not happen but tendons are often inflamed. Of the joints involved the knee seems commonest in children.

Chronic iridocyclitis, the eye inflammation more usually seen in the form of juvenile chronic arthritis with few joints involved, occurs in 8-17% of cases of psoriatic arthritis of childhood.

In terms of severity, the condition lies somewhere between the forms of juvenile chronic arthritis with few and with many joints involved. No more than 10% of affected children have seriously disabling forms of the disorder.

Using strict criteria, researchers estimate that psoriatic arthritis accounts for up to 8% of cases of childhood arthritis. Using less strict criteria, including a period of five years follow-up during which the psoriasis may appear, they think the real figure may be 20%. (source: Oxford Textbook of Rheumatology, Madison, Isenberg, Woo & Glass, Vol.2 1993,677-679 and 714-715, Oxford Medical Publications)

Early diagnosis is important

If your child develops painful joints and there is a family history of psoriasis - even if the child shows no psoriasis at the time - it is worth mentioning the possibility to your doctor and even more so, if any family member has psoriatic arthritis. If doubt remains, you should ask for a referral to a specialist - ideally a paediatric rheumatologist, but as these are few a paediatrician or adult rheumatologist with an interest in the condition.

Treatment

The main aims of treating juvenile psoriatic arthritis are to reduce joint inflammation, maintain mobility and prevent deformity. Physiotherapy is as important as drug treatment. Daily exercises, hydrotherapy (supervised exercise in a warm pool), and day and night splints are all important for long-term joint mobility. The aim of treatment is for your child to have as normal and active a childhood as possible.