Posted on July 19, 2008 in Latest News
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) is a type of arthritis that happens in children age 16 or younger. It causes joint swelling, stiffness and sometimes reduced motion. It can affect any joint, and in some cases it can affect internal organs as well.
Uveitis
Although it might not seem possible, a disease that affects the joints can sometimes also affect the eyes. Children with juvenile arthritis may develop significant ocular problems, usually beginning with a process called “uveitis” or “iritis”, a medical term for inflammation involving the blood vessel layer of the eye.
The only way to diagnose “Iritis” early in the disease before damage to the eye has occurred is to have an evaluation by an ophthalmologist who will use a “slit lamp microscope” to see an enlarged image of the front of the eye.
Because uveitis is more common in children with certain types of JIA, such as oligoarthritis, more frequent eye examinations (every three to four months) might be recommended. Children with polyarthritis require an examination every 6 months and patients with systemic JIA usually need an ophthalmologist examination every 12 months. Eye exams should continue after your child’s arthritis goes into remission.
Treatment
Treatment usually involves eye drops containing steroids that reduce the inflammation in the eye and prevent damage to the eye. Occasionally, stronger medications may be needed to treat iritis, but usually steroids are sufficient.
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