Get the Facts about Juvenile Arthritis

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You notice that your child seems to be having difficulty walking, especially after he or she has been sitting for a while. They tell you that the joints in their feet and ankles hurt and when you take a closer look you see redness and swelling. At Texas Foot Specialists, we know those symptoms can point to several foot problems but one that we recognize this month is juvenile arthritis (JA). July is Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month and below are some facts about this disease that are important to know.

Fact: Nearly 300,000 children and teens have juvenile arthritis.

Fact: JA is actually not one specific disease. As with adults, the term “arthritis” refers to a host of rheumatic and inflammatory disorders that strike people under the age of 16.

Fact: Most types of JA are auto-inflammatory or autoimmune disease. A healthy immune system fights off foreign germs and viruses it detects in the body. With JA, something goes wrong, and instead the immune system releases inflammatory chemicals to attack healthy cells and tissues.

Fact: Symptoms of JA do typically include joint tenderness and pain, inflammation and redness, but sometimes there are no symptoms. Other manifestations of JA can show up in the skin, eyes, and internal organs. Young patients may also feel extremely tired and run down, spike high fevers, and experience loss of appetite.

Fact: The definitive causes of JA are not known. Scientists and researchers think that there may be genes that cause JA when they are activated by a virus, bacteria, or other external factors. Currently there is no evidence to suggest that toxins, allergies, or lack of vitamins cause JA.

Fact: There is no cure for JA, but early diagnosis, followed by an aggressive treatment regimen that combines medication with a healthy diet, exercise, and complementary therapies, can prevent joint and organ damage, greatly relieve painful symptoms, and even lead to complete remission.

If your child experiences joint discomfort, make an appointment as soon as possible at our Sugar Land (281-242-4448), Pasadena (281-991-0600) or Houston (713-664-6677) office so that our podiatrists, Dr. Bruce Miller and Dr. Gregory Mangum, can evaluate the symptoms and determine their cause.