The immune system can affect this condition – scientists aren’t entirely sure why autoimmune diseases occur in the body, but they believe that certain genes in our DNA cause the immune system to become overactive which can lead to damage in parts of the body. It is rare for children to contract autoimmune conditions, but JIA is actually quite a common disease amongst kids. Studies have shown that peak age for this condition to begin is around two years old. The majority of cases occur in the knee joint, accounting for more than 90 percent of conditions. Most children complain of stiffness in their joints, causing them to walk differently – once the joint moves around more and warms up, the limp tends to improve.
If your child is diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis, you should ensure that they get the right treatments for it immediately so as to reduce the inflammation in the joint. There have been major advancements in the therapies available for JIA – although no cure has been found yet, there is a far higher chance of being able to manage the condition efficiently and effectively.