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Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis In Children

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Many people associate Arthritis with the elderly, although that’s not exclusively accurate. Affecting only about one percent of the world population, Rheumatoid Arthritis usually strikes women between the ages of forty and sixty, and occurs in women three times more often than in men. However, there are rare cases of children who are also affected by Rheumatoid Arthritis. According to Mayo Clinic, Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis is the most common type of arthritis in children under the age of 17, affecting about 50,000 children in the United States. Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis results in significant pain and disability in children, causing persistent joint pain, swelling and stiffness. Some children experience these symptoms for only a few …show more content…

It’s an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation of the lining of the joints. An autoimmune disease occurs when the individuals own immune system fails to recognize healthy tissue. The immune system, designed to protect our health by attacking foreign cells such as viruses, instead attacks the body’s healthy tissue. As a result, fluid builds up in the joints causing inflammation and joint pain. According to WebMD, Rheumatoid Arthritis is a type of arthritis that occurs in joints on both sides of the body. This symmetry helps distinguish Rheumatoid Arthritis from other types of arthritis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says “the inflamed synovium leads to erosions of the cartilage and bone.” This inflammatory process primarily affects the lining of the joints, known as the synovial membrane, but can also affect other organs. As stated by James Warson, “the causes of Rheumatoid Arthritis are not known, but several theories are under investigation” (63). Some theories suggest that a virus may alter the immune system, causing it to attack the joints. Other theories suggest that exposure to smoking may lead to Rheumatoid Arthritis. It’s believed to be due to a combination of genetic, environmental, and hormonal …show more content…

For this reason, it is very important to evaluate the quality of sleep in patients and caregivers. Patients with chronic pain often suffer from sleep disturbances, which affect sleep quality for them and their caregivers. Other sleep complications of children with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis include daytime sleepiness, sleep anxiety, night awakenings, and sleep disordered breathing. As indicated by Nozoe, “sleep is an essential physiologic process for the body homeostasis, especially for the physical development of children and their immune system.” Sleep disturbances may lead to other negative health consequences such as impairment and changes of the immune system. Improving sleep and treating sleep problems is essential for children diagnosed with this

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