Georgia health e-update, 2010 July

July 2010 eNewsletter

Keeping Kids with Juvenile Arthritis Active and Happy
Summer is a great time to be active, especially if you're a kid. Participating in little league, swimming at the local YMCA or riding a bike through the neighborhood are just some of the things that make summer fun for children. Yes, even adults still love these activities! However, if your child has Juvenile Arthritis (JA) participation in these summer pastimes is not as easy as lacing up the athletic shoes and heading outdoors. According to the Arthritis Foundation, careful consideration needs to be given to the type of activity so children with JA can develop confidence in their physical abilities.
Listen to the July Wellcast to learn more about sports and Juvenile Arthritis by clicking on the Wellcast icon to the right.

July is Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month
July is recognized as Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month and it's a great time of the year to call attention to this chronic illness. Summertime is when kids are at play, but a child suffering from Juvenile Arthritis (JA) may feel a bit left out. Their joint inflammation causes pain, stiffness and decreased mobility leaving a child less able to participate in some activities. According to the Arthritis Foundation, JA refers to any arthritis-related condition that develops in children under the age of 18. Approximately 294,000 children are affected by JA. It is also one of the most common childhood diseases in the United States. Although there is no known cause for JA, some of the symptoms to look for are:



Pain, swelling, tenderness and stiffness of joints causing limited range of motion



Contracture, or the loss of motion in a joint due to holding the joint in a prolonged

position



Damage to joint cartilage leading to deformity and impaired use of joint



Altered growth of bone and joints leading to short stature

Joint pain alone is not arthritis. It is diagnosed as arthritis only after an extensive physical exam that may include X-Rays to check for joint damage. JA is a chronic illness, lasting for months or even years. The symptoms change often, with some days appearing as though the illness has gone into remission only to return the following day. If your child has JA, there are many steps you can take to make childhood as normal and as active as possible. Begin by working with your child's physician to develop a therapeutic exercise routine. Encourage your child to participate in sports or recreational activities to exercise the muscles and to improve their confidence in their

physical abilities. And always encourage your child to look at their strengths rather than their limitations. To learn more about Juvenile Arthritis, log onto georgiahealthinfo.gov.