What Are the Symptoms of Arthritis in Children?

Arthritis, or inflammation of the joints, is not just an old person's condition. In America, almost 300,000 children younger than 18 have some form of juvenile arthritis, and it is one of the most common childhood diseases. The cause of most forms of arthritis in children is unknown, but there is no evidence to suggest that allergies, food, toxins or vitamin deficiencies are factors. Symptoms depend on the type of arthritis a child has, but the common symptom is joint pain and swelling.

Systemic Onset

Systemic onset juvenile arthritis makes up about 10 percent of children's cases. Symptoms include repetitive fevers of 103 or higher, often accompanied by an intermittent pink rash. This type of juvenile arthritis can cause internal organ inflammation as well as joint swelling. Children may have anemia and elevated white blood cell counts. Even after the symptoms disappear, the arthritis may persist.

Oligoarticular

Oligoarticular juvenile arthritis affects half of all children with arthritis. It involves inflammation in fewer than five joints in its initial stages. Joint inflammation is the main symptom, but patients are also at risk of eye inflammation that may persist even if the arthritis subsides. For older children, this condition may last into adulthood, but children younger than 7 have the best chance that the symptoms will subside as they age.

Polyarticular

Polyarticular juvenile arthritis affects five or more joints and can strike children at any age. As with other forms of juvenile arthritis, swelling is a main symptom, commonly in the wrists, knees and ankles. It often affects the same joint on both sides of the body. It is thought that teenagers diagnosed with this type of arthritis may actually have the adult form of rheumatoid arthritis, exhibited at an early stage.

Enthesitis Related

Enthesitis related arthritis involves the ligaments as well as the spine. Symptoms may include joint pain, back pain and stiffness, with no obvious swelling. This type of juvenile arthritis may be referred to as spondyloarthropathy.

Psoriatic Arthritis

Patients with psoriatic arthritis, in addition to inflammation of the joints, also have psoriasis or a strong family history of the skin disease. The main symptom of psoriasis is red, scaly, raised patches of skin, called plaques.