JUVENILE RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS, STILL'S DISEASE
Disease information
JUVENILE RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS, STILL'S DISEASE
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
, Still's
disease
.
Chronic
inflammatory
disease
of connective tissue, joints, which mainly affects
children
.
It affects the joints, especially knees, elbows, ankles and neck.
It can also affect the kidneys, heart or in severe cases.
Appears between 2 and 5 years old.
It is four times more
common
in girls.
Causes.
It is probably an autoimmune
disease
where the immune
system
attacks
its own tissues.
Often the first symptoms are associated with emotional
stress
.
Signs and symptoms.
Pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints of the toes, knees, ankles, shoulders or neck.
Some
children
refuse to go without being able to explain why.
The temperature rises to over 39 degrees, usually in the afternoon.
The fever is often accompanied by rash and chills.
Poor appetite,
weight
loss.
Anemia
.
Irritability, lethargy.
Inflammation of the lymph glands.
Eye pain and redness.
Chest pain (if the
disease
is so serious that affects the heart)
Risk Factors.
Stress
.
Prevention.
Until this
has
not been able to prevent.
Diagnosis and Treatment.
Diagnosis:
History and physical examination by
a
doctor
.
Blood tests, including determinations autoinmunológicas.
X - rays of affected joints.
Sometimes, X - rays show no changes until the advanced stages.
General measures.
Make sure the child resting on
a
hard
mattress
, providing him with good support.
Take it to the ophthalmologist at least twice
a
year for detection of
uveitis
.
Encourage the child and its surroundings have
a
positive attitude.
Medication.
Your
doctor
may prescribe aspirin or other non - steroidal anti - inflammatory drugs to reduce pain and inflammation.
In severe cases it may be necessary to prescribe anti - inflammatory or immunosuppressive drugs corticoesteroideos.
Activity
.
The child must stay in bed during the
attacks
, until the fever and other symptoms remit.
It may be necessary to the use of immobilizing splints to protect the joint inflammation.
After an
attack
the child will return to their
normal
activities gradually taking some breaks throughout the day.
You should not get tired and sleep at least 10 to 12 hours
each
night.
The
doctor
will recommend exercises to the child once it is sufficiently recovered.
Diet.
No special.
Advise your
doctor
if.
The following symptoms occur during treatment:
Pain in the chest. Fever.
Loss of appetite.
New unexplained symptoms. The drugs used in treatment can cause side effects.
Complications.
Condition of other tissues, causing So far, this
disease
is considered incurable.
However, at 75% to 80% of the cases referred to completely reach puberty.
The
attacks
usually last
a
few weeks and come and go throughout
childhood
.
In general, the symptoms can be controlled by treatment.
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