Believe it or not, you can in fact be born with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), while in the US approximately 300,000 babies a year are diagnosed with some form of arthritis, with RA being the most common.

Known as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, or JRA, this is often detected when your toddler or young child complains of stiffness, joint pain, and swelling.

JRA cause

The cause is not yet fully understood. Genetic traits may play a role, but it’s not clear why your own body mistakenly attacks your healthy cells at such a young age, known as an autoimmune disorder, causing joints to swell. However, it is believed that what triggers this action comes from an environmental toxin. .

Symptoms of JRA

Like many forms of JRA, it can go unnoticed for years or symptoms are noticed soon after birth.

As mentioned, the swelling, joint pain, and stiffness, especially before your child gets up in the morning, can get worse before the day is out, and occasionally the lymph nodes will swell, where it can develop. fever along with a rash.

Internal organs may also be affected, but this is rare.

JRA Diagnosis

If you think your child has some form of arthritis or you’re just concerned about the joint pain they’re experiencing, visit a pediatric rheumatologist.

They will perform standard tests, such as a blood test, a physical exam, ask about your symptoms, and maybe take some X-rays.

This diagnosis will not confirm JRA, but once all alternative conditions have been ruled out and if symptoms still persist after 6 weeks, JRA is often confirmed.

There are 3 types of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

1. Systemic JRA

This is the least likely form of JRA and includes all of the symptoms listed above and also affects the internal organs.

This is the most severe form of JRA and accounts for 20% of all JRA cases. It also increases the chance that your child’s JRA will not go away but will turn into RA in their teens and twenties.

2. Pauciarticular JRA

This affects about 50% of JRA cases where most children grow out of it, but you have to be careful about one of the symptoms, which is swelling of the eyes which can lead to vision loss over the years. years, so be sure to check. an ophthalmologist.

It will only affect a few joints, the most important being the arm and knee joint.

3. Polyarticular JRA

This is quite serious as 30% of polyarticular patients cannot get rid of this form of JRA in childhood.

It frequently affects a handful of large and small joints and is predictable in nature, attacking the same joints on each side of the body.

Anemia is also a risk, so a lot of physical therapy is recommended to keep the child active and fit.

JRA Treatment

Fortunately, today’s modern medicine and natural supplements will help prevent JRA from escalating, where the worst case scenario would affect a child’s bone development.

However, this rather severe case is now being treated with physical therapy and medication, restricting any potential growth defects.

However, what is disturbing in the West is that, just like adults who are prescribed NSAIDs, so are children.

This is concerning because NSAIDs can have dangerous side effects and can also affect the health of the liver, kidneys, and heart.

VIOXX and Celebrex were recently recalled for presenting exactly these dangers, so if you want to avoid these pharmaceutical anti-inflammatory supplements and not put your child in danger, the following natural anti-inflammatory ingredients will help safely reduce swelling, number pain and increase bone density.

  • glucosamine complex
  • Reishi
  • chondroitin sulfate
  • MSM
  • magnesium and calcium supplements
  • Vitamin C and D
  • ginger
  • Tongkat Ali
  • capsaicin
  • white willow bark