Can you tell me what the prognosis is for our granddaughter who was recently diagnosed with juvenile arthritis? How long does it last? Will she outgrow it?
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) affecting children is not uncommon. This condition used to be called juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) but new findings have shifted the name to reflect numerous subtypes of the disease. Most children are identified as having some form of juvenile arthritis early on (between ages one and three) but it can develop anytime during childhood or adolescence. There are seven different subtypes of juvenile idiopathic arthritis. The prognosis depends somewhat on which type she has been diagnosed with. Some types affect a single joint while others can cause pain, swelling, and inflammation of multiple joints. The systemic subtype affects multiple joints and multiple systems within the body including skin, heart, lungs, liver, and spleen. Many of these children go into remission (recover) but they have some long-lasting joint problems. At least half of all children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis remain affected by the disease into adulthood. That's when treatment becomes a matter of management rather than cure or recovery. The earlier the diagnosis is made, the better the chances are for minimizing the effects of this condition. Today's treatments are more effective than in the past and quality of life for these children is much better than even 10 years ago.
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