Medicines for Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)

What it is

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common type of long-term arthritis in children and young people, in which one or more joints become inflamed, causing pain, swelling, stiffness (often worse in the morning) and sometimes reduced movement. "Idiopathic" means the cause is not fully known; it is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the joints. There are several types, varying in how many joints are affected and whether other parts of the body are involved. Some types can also affect the eyes (causing inflammation called uveitis, which may be silent), so regular eye checks are important. JIA can affect a child's growth, activity and school life, but with modern treatment many children do very well, and some grow out of it. Early diagnosis and treatment help protect the joints and are important.

How it is treated

Care is provided by specialist paediatric rheumatology teams and aims to control the inflammation, relieve symptoms, protect the joints, and support normal growth, development and activity. Treatment often includes medicines that reduce inflammation and calm the immune system, ranging from anti-inflammatory medicines to disease-modifying drugs and, for more active disease, targeted biologic treatments, which have greatly improved outcomes. Physiotherapy and occupational therapy keep the joints moving and support function, and joint injections help specific joints. Regular eye checks screen for and treat eye inflammation. Support for the child and family, at school and in daily life, is important. With early, effective treatment, many children achieve good control or remission and lead full, active lives. Ongoing monitoring adjusts treatment as needed.