Juvenile Spondyloarthritis

Juvenile-onset spondyloarthritis (JSpA), also known as Juvenile Spondyloarthropathy, is the medical term for a group of childhood rheumatic diseases, which cause arthritis before the age of 16 and may span through adult life. The juvenile spondyloarthropathies include undifferentiated spondyloarthropathy, juvenile ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, reactive arthritis and spondylitis of inflammatory bowel diseases.

JSpA typically causes pain and inflammation in the joints in the lower part of the body, for example, the pelvis, hips, knees and ankles. Other areas of the body can also be affected, such as the spine, eyes, skin and bowels. Fatigue and lethargy can also occur.

Is There a Cure?

Although there is no known cure, the good news is that there is much that can be done to help. To that end, it is very important to have a correct diagnosis made as quickly as possible. This is the role of the pediatric rheumatologist, who is a physician with special training in rheumatic diseases (arthritis) in children. In order to make a diagnosis, he or she will evaluate your child’s history of symptoms, perform a complete physical exam and do laboratory tests, and then be able to decide upon a course of treatment that will sometimes involve bringing in other medical experts. These can include an eye doctor (ophthalmologist), bowel doctor (gastroenterologist) and sometimes a skin doctor (dermatologist).

Causes of JspA

The exact cause is unknown, but genetics do play a key role. Much like in adult-onset spondyloarthropathies, the genetic marker, HLA-B27 is often found in those with JSpA.

How will this affect a child’s day-to-day life?

Even in its mild forms, JSpA can affect your child’s normal daily routines. It’s important to keep his/her daily life as normal as possible to prevent any undue emotional stress. Together with your child’s doctor, inform your child’s teachers and school of his/her condition, and make them aware of any special needs he/she might have such as seating and the need to stretch.

Whenever possible, your child should participate in gym and other physical activities. Remaining active will help your child stay involved with her peers and lead a normal life. Before returning to a physical activity, make his/her teachers and coaches aware of any limitations he/she may have. Low impact sports are more favorable than sports that produce high joint stress. However, it is not always necessary to remove your child from high impact sports. The potential damage from the sport is much less than the psychological impact that a lack of involvement can have on your child.

Since the school years greatly influence a child’s emotional development, it is critical that a child with a chronic disease be treated and made to feel equal to unaffected children because this can contribute toward his or her ability to cope with the arthritis.

Disease Course/Prognosis

Although juvenile spondyloarthritis is a chronic disease, the length and scope of the JSpA varies in each patient. It is difficult to predict a long-term outcome for this disease, especially in its early stages. The disease can sometimes last for months or years and then go into periods of remission (when the patient seems ‘cured’). It can also persist into adulthood.

Note that as research and therapies continue to develop your child can look forward to the advancements medicine is making.