Causes of Arthritis in Children
Arthritis in children may be due to one of several factors:
- Trauma: After injury, cartilage damage or wearing may produce joint space injury with narrowing, inflammation and pain.
- Inflammation: Children suffer from inflammatory joint damage associated with juvenile arthritis and collagen vascular disease. For example, systemic lupus erythematosis.
- Infection: Pyarthrosis (infection in a joint) can damage cartilage and destroy the joint if not treated in a timely manner.
Signs of Arthritis
Arthritis in children presents itself as swelling, heat over the joint and pain. Night pain may indicate early arthritis. Limping without complaints of pain may be the first indication of arthritis
Treatment for Children
Arthritis may be treated with oral anti-inflammatory medications, injectable medications, removal of inflamed synovitis (surgery), soft tissue surgery, reorientation of bone (osteotomy), making the joint surgically stiff (fusion or arthrodesis ) or, rarely, joint replacement.
When to See an Expert
Children with swelling of a joint, pain or limited motion should be evaluated by a physician. Parents do not need a physician's referral to make an appointment with a specialist.
