$Unique_ID{PAR00018}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Medical Advice:  Arthritis}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{
Editors of Consumer Guide
Chasnoff, Ira J}
$Subject{Arthritis Swelling joints joint Stiffness Pain tenderness Warmth
Redness Fever Infectious purulent rheumatoid allergic postviral rubella
fingers toes wrists ankles elbows knees shoulders hips jaw spine}
$Log{
Joints and Arthritis*0001801.tif}

Your Child:  A Medical Guide


Arthritis


     Quick Reference

     KEY SYMPTOMS
     - Swelling of joints
     - Stiffness or difficulty in moving joints

     SYMPTOMS
     - Pain or tenderness in joints
     - Warmth in joints

     POSSIBLE SYMPTOMS
     - Redness of joints
     - Fever

     HOME CARE
     - Do not treat at home until a doctor has diagnosed the cause.
     - If a doctor is not immediately available, give aspirin or acetaminophen
       and rest the affected joints.

     PRECAUTIONS
     - Infectious arthritis is an emergency--unless a doctor is seen within 24
       hours, permanent damage may occur.
     - Rheumatoid arthritis and rheumatic fever require prompt treatment.
     - If a child has prolonged unexplained fever and stiffness in the joints
       and the neck, rheumatoid arthritis may be the cause.


     Arthritis is an inflammation of any joint or joints.  Arthritis most
often affects joints in the fingers, toes, wrists, ankles, elbows, knees,
shoulders, hips, jaw, and spine.  Six types of arthritis occur in childhood:
rheumatoid arthritis, arthritis associated with acute rheumatic fever,
infectious arthritis, allergic arthritis, postviral arthritis, and arthritis
of rubella.
     Rheumatoid arthritis can occur at any time past the age of one year.  So
far the cause is unknown.  It may affect one or several joints.  The joints
become swollen, warm, stiff, and mildly to moderately painful, but not usually
red.  The neck is affected in 50 percent of the cases.  Arthritis may appear
months before or after other signs of illness, such as fever, irritability,
loss of appetite, and a fine pink rash.
     Arthritis associated with acute rheumatic fever usually affects many
joints, which become red, swollen, and extremely tender.  Other symptoms of
general illness (including fever) are also present.
     Infectious (purulent) arthritis is an inflammation within a joint caused
by various bacterial diseases (including staphylococcal, streptococcal,
pneumococcal, and salmonella infections).  This type of arthritis most often
occurs in infants less than one year old.  In older children and adults, it
can be caused by puncture wounds near the joints.  In this type of arthritis,
the joint is tender, swollen, and red.  The child usually has a fever.
     In allergic arthritis the joints are stiff, swollen, and red, but pain is
slight.  The disease is caused by an allergic reaction to insect stings,
medications, foods, or small particles inhaled from the air.  It is generally
accompanied by hives.
     Postviral arthritis occurs after an illness caused by a virus.  The
symptoms are similar to those from other causes of arthritis, especially
rheumatoid arthritis.  Postviral arthritis corrects itself without treatment.
     Arthritis of rubella occurs as a complication of rubella (German measles)
or as a reaction to rubella vaccine, especially in older children.  Arthritis
of rubella usually corrects itself without treatment and usually causes no
permanent damage.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

     Arthritis should be considered whenever there is pain and a limited
ability to move any joint, unless there has been a physical injury to the
joint.  Deciding if a child has arthritis is best left to the doctor.

HOME CARE

     No home treatment is safe until a doctor's diagnosis has been made.
Trying to treat the condition at home may only delay proper treatment.  Also,
home treatment may make diagnosis more difficult for the doctor.  If your
doctor is not immediately available, pain-relievers containing aspirin or
acetaminophen will temporarily reduce the discomfort.  Rest or immobilize the
affected joints.

PRECAUTIONS

  -  Infectious arthritis is an emergency, and delay of treatment for 24 hours
     may result in permanent damage to a joint.
  -  Rheumatoid arthritis and rheumatic fever require prompt treatment to
     minimize damage but are not considered emergencies.
  -  Rheumatoid arthritis can begin with only a prolonged unexplained fever
     and no outward signs of arthritis (redness, tenderness, swelling).

MEDICAL TREATMENT

     For the evaluation of arthritis, several tests are necessary.  These
tests may include x-ray studies, a wide variety of blood tests, blood culture,
analysis of a sample of fluid drawn from the joint, electrocardiogram, and a
stool culture.  Treatment may include antibiotics, drainage of the joints,
large doses of aspirin (aspirin substitutes do not have the same effect), or
oral steroids.  If large doses of aspirin are prescribed and taken over a
period of time, aspirin blood levels should be tested regularly.
     If the condition is diagnosed as allergic arthritis, the doctor may
suggest using oral antihistamines to relieve the symptoms.  If it is diagnosed
as arthritis of rubella, no treatment is necessary.

RELATED TOPICS:  Growing pains; Hip problems; Knee pains; Puncture wounds;
Sprains and dislocations