How to Tell a Child They Have Arthritis

Nearly 290,000 children in the United States suffer from a form of arthritis, the most common of which is juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Sharing the news of this diagnosis with your child will be one of may hurdles your family may have to overcome during the course of her lifetime. Find the courage to tell your child she has arthritis in a way that will help ease the worry she may be experiencing during this difficult time.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Juvenile arthritis literature
• Physician
• Therapist or social worker

Educate Yourself About Juvenile Arthritis

1. Talk to your child's doctor about the specific kind of arthritis she has. Though juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is the most common, children also suffer from arthritic conditions such as juvenile spondyloarthropathies, psoriatic arthritis, dermatomyositis or vasculitis, all of which differ in their treatment and the severity of potential disability.
2. Speak to the specialist who will be treating your child to learn more about the kinds of medication your child will need to take and what potential side effects may occur.
3. Find out whether physical therapy or assistive devices will be needed in the treatment of your child.
4. Ask your doctor for literature about your child's condition that you may share with him or other family members.

Talk With Your Child About the Diagnosis

5. Talk with your child, not at her. You need to create a forum in which they feel safe to ask questions about disability and pain, which may be difficult or frightening to discuss.
6. Tell him that you will always be there to support him, no matter what kind of medication or other treatment he may have to undergo.
7. Ease her fears by not blowing her diagnosis out of proportion. You can use comparatives to other children with this condition to demonstrate how many others with arthritis have led otherwise normal and healthy lives.
8. Discuss treatment options in a realistic manner. The uncertainty of whether a child's pain or condition will be treated with injections, surgeries or pills can be more frightening than the reality.
9. Encourage him to ask his doctor questions about his condition and treatment during the next appointment.

Tips & Warnings

• Take the time to tell other interested family members about your child's diagnosis in a manner that will not overly alarm or distress them. By arming your loved ones with current information about the treatment of your child's condition, you can help avoid potentially stressful situations.