If you’re like many of the parents we talk to, when someone says arthritis, you might immediately jump to the worn-down joints, wear-and-tear kind of arthritis that you may have seen your older family members having trouble with. While that’s definitely the case for many, the unfortunate truth – and the answer to our question – is yes, kids can get and are affected by arthritis, too. It affects up to 4 in every 1000 children in Australia – and it’s known as Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA).

 

Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: The Lowdown

JIA  is the name given to a number of different forms of arthritis that occur in children. They occur in kids aged 16 years and younger and frustratingly, arise with no known cause to produce inflammation in the joints. 

The good news is that unlike adult arthritis which is chronic (ongoing), children may outgrow JIA. The bad news is that as it occurs in the critical growth window for children, JIA has the potential to negatively, and permanently, interfere with a child’s growth and bone development.

 

The Most Common Types Of Arthritis In Kids

JIA is categorised by the number of joints that are affected, as well as whether it’s the joints that are targeted or the surrounding tissues. Some common types of JIA include oligoarthritis (up to four affected joints), polyarticular (five or more affected joints), systemic (affecting the entire body), psoriatic arthritis (resulting from psoriasis) and enthesitis-related arthritis (inflammation of the tendons and tissues near the joints, not the joints themselves).

Regardless of the type of arthritis, the effects on the joints in the feet and legs can be debilitating and limiting. 

 

What causes arthritis to develop?

Good question! Like other forms of arthritis, JIA is caused by the body’s immune system attacking its own cells. It is not currently known why this occurs in some people and not others, hence the term idiopathic, meaning of unknown origin. While there is some evidence to suggest that genetic history may make you more vulnerable, it is not considered to be a hereditary disease. It is also thought that it may be triggered by an infection, either viral or bacterial, where the immune system response persists long after the original infection has been cleared. 

 

Symptoms

All subtypes of JIA share some common symptoms – all which can be extremely difficult to see as parents! The symptoms come on in flare-ups, which may be mild in one flare and severe in another. The flares may be unilateral or bilateral, as well as symmetrical or asymmetrical. It’s often difficult to predict when a flare will occur, meaning they can spontaneously develop at any time. During a flare, your child may experience:

 

• Problems with regular movement

• Red, swollen joints

• Stiffness or painful joints that may limit normal movement

• Exhaustion, increased fatigue or lethargy

• High fever and skin rashes, particularly in systemic JIA

 

 

Managing Arthritis In Kids

Currently, foot problems and disability affect over 60% of children with JIA, meaning that taking good care of the joints of the feet and legs is incredibly important. We work extensively with multi-disciplinary healthcare teams to provide the best care and long-term outcomes for your child’s health and well-being.

As there is no cure for JIA, medical treatments focus on limiting the symptoms during flare-ups to help children live a normal life. As podiatrists here at Sole Motion, our goal is to keep kids mobile and comfortable both during flares and in between them. Everything we do also has a key focus on helping prevent changes to the joints that may continue to cause problems into adulthood, whether or not the JIA persists.

The treatments we use are highly tailored to each child, and may include custom orthotics to offload affected joints while maintaining comfort when walking, footwear to support movement, and addressing any gait abnormalities that may contribute to the faster progression of joint damage, including using physical therapy and splinting. We can also help to design a suitable activity program to keep your child active while minimising their pain, as evidence suggests that children affected by JIA should still participate in 60 minutes of exercise per day, same as other children.

 

Want to partner with a passionate podiatry team that loves helping kids stay happy and active?

Our experienced podiatry team in Melbourne’s Point Cook love using our skills and knowledge to help families – we’re parents too, so we absolutely get it. To book your appointment, call us on 1300 FX-FEET or book your appointment online here.