How Is Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnosed?
The American College of Rheumatology reports that juvenile arthritis may be difficult to diagnose because children often compensate well for loss of function and may not complain of pain. Observations of limping, stiffness when awakening, reluctance to use a limb or reduced activity level may be clues. Tests commonly “positive” in adult arthritis (rheumatoid factor in the blood or changes on x-rays) are often “negative” in childhood types. A number of other conditions can mimic juvenile arthritis, such as infections, childhood malignancies, musculoskeletal conditions or other less common rheumatic diseases, and further evaluation to exclude these may be necessary before a diagnosis is confirmed. Who Treats Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis? A pediatrician, family physician, or other primary care doctor frequently manages the treatment of a child with JRA, often with the help of other doctors. Depending on the patient’s and parents’ wishes and the severity of the disease, the team of doctor
