What Is Pauciarticular Arthritis?
Arthritis is characterized by swelling, pain and a reduced range of motion in a joint. Most common in adults, it can also occur in children. Arthritis in children differs greatly from that in adults. This is true for one form of the disease called pauciarticular arthritis.
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The Facts
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Pauciarticular arthritis is a classification doctors give to juvenile arthritis. They use it to distinguish between arthritis that is found in just a few joints -- pauciarticular -- and arthritis that is found in many -- polyarticular -- during the first six months of illness. Typically, children who have pauciarticular arthritis experience problems in large joints like the knee, rather than in multiple small joints in the fingers. It is twice as likely to occur in girls as in boys.
Symptoms
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Symptoms of pauciarticular arthritis usually develop in children between the ages of 1 and 7. Usually, the first sign is a single unusually swollen knee joint. Other symptoms include pain and stiffness in the joint and a reduced range of motion in the affected limb. The child with pauciarticular arthritis will usually move stiffly or limp in the morning. As the day goes on, the joint moves more freely and symptoms fade.
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Treatment
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The most common treatment for pauciarticular arthritis is a prescription for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. If the swelling persists, the doctor may also try injecting a corticosteroid directly into the joint. In rare cases, surgery may be required if standard NSAIDs and direct injections have not had any effect. A surgeon can open up the joint and remove excess tissue to try to relieve pain and swelling.
Prognosis
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The prognosis for most children with pauciarticular arthritis is very good. Most respond well to treatment and make a full recovery. In a few cases, children may experience a flare up of arthritis in the effected joint later on, but that is the exception. Most children go on to play sports and participate in normal childhood activities with few problems.
Complications
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There are two serious complications that can arise from pauciarticular arthritis of which doctors and parents must be aware. The first is a discrepancy in limb length. If a child has pauciarticular arthritis in one knee, the effected leg can grow to be longer than the other. Surgery can correct the discrepancy. The other complication is inflammation of the eyes. This inflammation develops slowly and can damage the iris and the pupil and lead to vision problems. Children with pauciarticular arthritis should have their eyes examined often so if inflammation develops it can be treated quickly.
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