What are the types of juvenile arthritis?
There are different types of JA. You may have any of the following types of JA: • Oligoarthritis: This is also called pauciarticular arthritis. Oligoarthritis is arthritis in less than five joints during the first six months of the disease. Six months after the start of the disease, oligoarthritis may be either persistent or extended. Persistent oligoarthritis is when the number of joints involved remains less than five. Extended oligoarthritis happens when the joints involved increases to five or more. Oligoarthritis tends to occur in large joints of the lower limbs, such as the knees and ankles. • Polyarthritis: This type of JA is when five or more joints are affected within the first six months of the disease. This may occur in very young children or adolescents. The large and small joints of the hands and feet are often affected. Sometimes, your child’s neck bones and the joints of his jaw may also be involved. • Systemic arthritis: This is where many parts of the body, other than
