The care of children and adolescents with arthritis and other rheumatic diseases in British Columbia

Arthritis can affect children of all ages. Chronic arthritis in childhood (called juvenile arthritis, or juvenile idiopathic arthritis) is not a rare disease. About 1 out of 1,000 children are affected with some form of arthritis.

Juvenile arthritis causes pain, swelling and stiffness in joints, resulting in problems in doing normal daily activities. There are seven subtypes of JA; these subtypes are assigned based on how many joints the child has involved, the presence or absence of fever or rash, the presence or absence of some immune markers in the blood, or a history of psoriasis (a skin disease) in the child or their family members. Knowing the correct subtype of JA can be helpful in deciding on medical treatment, or in knowing what to expect in the future.

Good outcomes for children and adolescents with JA depend on an early correct diagnosis and treatment. There are many effective treatments for children with JA, and together with a pediatric physiotherapy and occupational therapy program, children can remain active, growing and developing normally despite having arthritis. Treatments should be started early, and should be aggressive in trying to decrease inflammation in joints as much as possible; this will provide the best chance of preventing permanent joint destruction and damage.

Other rheumatic diseases which also affect children and adolescents include: systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM), scleroderma, various forms of vasculitis and other rare autoimmune conditions. These diseases are all much less common than JA. The pediatric rheumatology team cares for children and adolescents with all of these conditions, providing comprehensive team care.

Children and teenagers are special, and the pediatric rheumatology team has special training to diagnose and treat children with arthritis and rheumatic diseases - children and teens are not just little adults!

For more information about juvenile arthritis and other rheumatic conditions, please visit the website for the Division of Pediatric Rheumatology at the British Columbia’s Children’s Hospital [1].

Other Resources for Children with Arthritis

The Arthritis Society provides a variety of education and information resources for people with arthritis, including children. To find out what specific resources are available for children with arthritis where you live, be sure to contact us at:

• Arthritis Answers Line at 604.875.5051 or Toll free line at 1.800.321.1433
• Email us at info@bc.arthritis.ca [2]
• Visit us at www.arthritis.ca/bc [3]

Children’s Education Retreat

The Arthritis Society hosts an annual three and a half day summer retreat at Camp Capilano, North Vancouver for children and adolescents in British Columbia with pediatric rheumatic diseases. This annual retreat is generally limited to children being cared for by a pediatric rheumatologist in British Columbia.

Campers learn more about their disease and treatment options, improve self-esteem, develop self-management skills and a higher level of functional independence. The camp also provides an excellent opportunity for children to develop a support network. The children and adolescents enjoy the recreational activities, have fun and also meet others with similar issues. This retreat is delivered in partnership with the Mary Pack Arthritis Program’s Pediatric Team and the Pediatric Rheumatology Program at BC Children’s Hospital.

For more information on Juvenile Arthritis

What is juvenile arthritis?, How common is juvenile arthritis? What are the warning signs of JA? What causes JA? What can you do about JA? Additional tips for living well. Click here [4] to visit the Arthritis Society of Canada's main website pages about Juvenile Artritis.

The BC Ministry of Health

BCHealthGuide website (click here [5]) provides the following information: Topic overview, What causes JRA?, What are the symptoms?, How is JRA diagnosed?, How is it treated? And FAQ

Books for Parents Coping with Children with Arthritis

For recommended books on juvenile arthritis, click here [6] for a list of books on the arthritis.ca website.

Kids Only new arthritis website
“Kids Only” arthritis website is being developed by The Arthritis Society National Office in collaboration with Pediatric Rheumatologists – please complete this survey by visiting www.arthritiskids.ca [7]

PRINTO (Paediatric Rheumatology International Trials Organization) conducts and facilitates international studies, in order to accumulate data on children with pediatric rheumatic diseases. With over 200 centres worldwide, the organization is actively involved in both clinical and research-based care of children with JIA and other rheumatic problems. For more information, visit their website at: www.printo.it [8]

NOAH online access to health website is another helpful site to guide you to more information on children with arthritis, click here [9] to visit their website.

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