Arthritis is a disease of the joints. Unfortunately, in our time, this disease affects every thousandth child. Arthritis can appear at any age. The most common causes of arthritis in children are various joint injuries, malfunctions in the immune system and infectious diseases.
Symptoms of arthritis in children
Children of different age categories have different symptoms of this disease. Signs of arthritis in infants:
- redness and swelling are observed in the area of the affected joint;
- elevated temperature;
- crying while shifting the child;
- poor appetite;
- poor weight gain;
- the baby does not move the diseased part of the body.
Signs of arthritis in children of school and preschool age:
- refusal of mobile games;
- capriciousness, irritability;
- weakness, fatigue;
- increased body temperature;
- pain in the area of the inflamed joint, restriction of mobility.
Classification of arthritis
1. Rheumatoid juvenile arthritis in children - chronic inflammation of the joint. The causes of this type of arthritis are not known. The disease begins to develop in children in the first 4 years of life. Most often, with rheumatoid arthritis, large joints suffer: the ankle, knees and hip joints, which, increasing in size, can change shape. Pain, with this type of arthritis, the patient may not experience.
Signs of rheumatoid arthritis in children:
- when inflammation of the joints of the legs, lameness is observed;
- possibly the appearance of rash and enlarged lymph nodes;
- morning stiffness in movements lasts about an hour;
- inflammation of the joint lasts about 6-7 weeks.
2. Reactive arthritis - inflammation of the joints, developing in a couple of weeks after an infectious disease.
Symptoms of reactive arthritis in children:
- 2-3 weeks before the inflammation, there may be symptoms of intestinal infection or urinary tract infection;
- Inflamed and increase in the size of the joints of the feet;
- pronounced pain in the joints, worse when moving.
- temperature, weakness, drowsiness;
- possibly inflammation and redness of the eyes, tear.
3. Viral arthritis in children is the most common form of the disease in preschool children. There is viral arthritis on the background of infectious diseases (rubella, adenovirus infections, epidemic parotitis). Usually passes two weeks after the onset. During treatment, it is recommended that bed rest is observed for unloading the joints. With strong painful sensations the doctor can prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs.
Treatment of arthritis in children
If you suspect arthritis, you should consult your doctor. Only a specialist can correctly diagnose the form of the disease. Probably, will appoint or nominate inspection on a computer tomograph and a roentgen. He will ask for blood tests, feces and urine tests. And only after that will he choose the appropriate treatment for the child, which, depending on the type of disease, will include a special diet, the use of ointments and medicines. In some cases, the doctor advises physical education.
Do not forget that with timely detection of the disease and timely treatment started, arthritis passes faster and without complications.