It may begin with a swollen knuckle, a spiking fever, or an unexplainable rash. But no matter what symptoms appear, hearing the word "arthritis" used as a diagnosis for your child can be unexpected and confusing.

Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints that is characterized by swelling, heat, and pain. Arthritis can be short-term or chronic. In rare cases, it can last a lifetime. Juvenile arthritis, or JA, is the term used for all the types of arthritis that affect children. Although we often associate this disorder with the elderly, many forms of arthritis afflict more than 285,000 children in the United States.

The most prevalent form of juvenile arthritis is juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, or JRA, affecting approximately 75,000 children in the United States. Read the article below to learn about the symptoms, signs, and treatment of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis in children.

What Causes Juvenile Rheumatoid (Idiopathic) Arthritis? The medical community doesn't know exactly what causes rheumatoid arthritis (also referred to as idiopathic arthritis) in children. Research indicates that it is an autoimmune disease. In autoimmune diseases, white blood cells lose the ability to tell the difference between the body's own healthy cells and tissues and harmful invaders like bacteria and viruses. The immune system, which is supposed to protect the body from these harmful invaders, instead releases chemicals that can damage healthy tissues and cause inflammation and pain.