Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis

JRA, or juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, now better known as juvenile idiopathic arthritis, is a disease that causes persistent inflammation of the joints in children and adolescents.

Common symptoms: It can present with joint pain, swelling, and stiffness, especially noticeable in the mornings, along with fatigue and, in some cases, fever or involvement of the eyes.

Why it happens: It is considered a disorder in which the body's defense system reacts against its own joints, without a single identifiable cause.

Which specialist treats it? The pediatrician performs the initial evaluation and usually refers to the pediatric rheumatologist for follow-up. If a child has joint swelling or stiffness that persists, the advisable course is to discuss it with a professional.