What is juvenile idiopathic arthritis and what are the symptoms?

From irishtimes.com

Symptoms include persistent joint pain; early-morning stiffness; redness, swelling and heat over the joint

Known as JIA for short, juvenile idiopathic arthritis has many different forms, but it is basically a chronic inflammatory condition of the joints. Juvenile means it is a kind of arthritis that begins before the age of 16 and idiopathic means the cause is not known.

What is the incidence?

Every year about one in 10,000 children in Ireland are diagnosed with JIA, according to Arthritis Ireland. It is estimated that there are 1,200 to 1,400 under-16s with the condition.

What are the typical symptoms?

Persistent joint pain; early-morning stiffness; redness, swelling and heat over the joint. With any child presenting with those kinds of symptoms, you immediately think infection or injury first, and a lot of patients will have short-lived, reactive arthritis at the start of an illness, says Dr Emma MacDermott, consultant paediatric rheumatologist in Children’s Health Ireland at Crumlin. “But if things are persisting, then you need to start thinking about an inflammatory condition.”

Inflammation of the middle layer of the eye, known as uveitis, is linked to some forms of JIA.

How is JIA diagnosed?

A paediatric consultant rheumatologist will make a clinical diagnosis, as there is no one definitive blood test for it. However, blood work and MRI scans will be used in the diagnosing.

How is it treated?

A range of different medications are used to help youngsters manage the disease. Physiotherapy and physical activity are also part of the treatment plan.

Do children grow out of it?

There are three main scenarios for patients that are seen across all types of JIA, says Dr MacDermott.

1. Those who go on medication for a protracted period of time, are then weaned off and never have another issue again.
2. Another group who are weaned off medication but quite quickly it’s seen that they need to go back on it and stay on it for longer.
3. The third category is those who are weaned off medication and can stay off it but may have flare-ups from time to time.

The type of arthritis a child has will indicate which of these three broad categories they are more likely to fall into. The majority of patients, 60-70 per cent, “will have a rheumatologist in their adult life”, she says. And children who have JIA continue to carry that JIA diagnosis into adulthood, she adds, because the disease that develops in older people is different.

Are there enough rheumatologists to diagnose and treat these children?

We have only about half the number there should be, according to Dr MacDermott. Benchmarked against the UK, the Republic should have at least six paediatric rheumatologists and there are about three full-time equivalents, working mostly in Children’s Health Ireland at Crumlin and Children’s Health Ireland at Temple Street, with some adolescents seen in St James’s Hospital.

https://www.irishtimes.com/health/your-family/2023/03/21/what-is-juvenile-idiopathic-arthritis-and-what-are-the-symptoms/

Benefits of physical activity highlighted for people with arthritis

From avondhupress.ie

Being active can have a big impact on the health and wellbeing of people with arthritis, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to Arthritis Ireland. The national patient organisation has today (20 April) launched National Arthritis Week with the theme “Every Movement Matters”.

The charity is encouraging people living with arthritis to try even small amounts of physical activity, which they say can help you stay strong and remain independent.

“Physical activity is about much more than exercise; it includes any activity or movement that people do. This can include dancing to the radio, gardening, seated exercises, walking around the house or building your strength with a tin of beans. Everyone can start being active, even now, when so much of the world is shut down,” said the charity’s chief executive, Gráinne O’Leary.

She noted that while some people with arthritis think that physical activity will make their condition worse, the opposite is true.
“Research proves that physical activity can reduce stiffness and pain, increase flexibility, strengthen muscles around the joints and help people reach and maintain a healthier weight,” Ms O’Leary stated.

She continued: “Physical activity is also shown to have a positive impact on mental wellbeing, which is so important in these challenging times. Being active is associated with better sleep patterns, well-being, self-esteem, energy levels and helps manage fatigue.”

Caroline Cahill from Portlaoise has rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis. To keep herself active during Covid-19, she does chair exercises, takes the stairs, washes the windows and walks her three dogs.
“Movement is definitely the best medicine,” she said, “I keep my own pain under control; the busier I can be, the better I feel.”

Arthritis Ireland is publishing information and resources about physical activity on its website and social media channels throughout National Arthritis Week. This will include a Take Control with Exercise programme, which features flexibility and strengthening exercises.

The charity is also asking people to support its work by donating €4 by texting ARTHRITIS to 50300.

Around one million people have arthritis in Ireland. The condition affects people of all ages, including children; one in five (18%) are younger than 55 years.

There are over 100 different forms of arthritis, which cause pain, destruction, stiffness and swelling in the joints of the body. Arthritis accounts for one-third of GP visits and is the single biggest cause of disability.

The number of people living with arthritis is forecast to increase in the coming decades. Two key drivers are increased life expectancy and physical inactivity.
Just 46% of adults in Ireland are achieving the minimum level of activity of 150 minutes per week. This figure falls to one-third for adults aged 65-74.

“Taking positive action now by getting more people physically active is a public health imperative. We must do everything possible to minimise the pain and destruction caused by arthritis. Every movement matters is a philosophy we can all embrace,” added Gráinne O’Leary.

National Arthritis Week is supported by MSD and Novartis. Further information about National Arthritis Ireland Week is available online at www.arthritisireland.ie.

https://avondhupress.ie/benefits-of-physical-activity-highlighted-for-people-with-arthritis/