Kids get arthritis, too
ARTHRITIS is commonly mistaken as a disease of the elderly. This is because some of the most common causes of joint damage are age-related, including joint damage caused by wear and tear, and joint degeneration. However, even children can get juvenile arthritis, which occurs and develops in children less than 16 years of age.
“Arthritis occurs in so many forms that it is actually just a symptom, like a cough or a cold,” said Dr. Christine Bernal, pediatric rheumatologist at the University of Santo Tomas Hospital.
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) is a chronic disease that causes pain, stiffness, swelling and limitations in the motion and function of multiple joints. It is an auto-immune disease that develops because certain cells of the immune system do not work properly and begin attacking healthy joints.
Seina Youka Ishihara was a regular, healthy 3-year-old girl. One day though she began to complain of a pilay in her left wrist. She was brought to an orthopedic doctor, but the doctor couldn’t see anything wrong in the X-rays.
Soon her other wrist began to hurt, as well. Then fever started. After a series of hospital stays and no response to different treatments, Seina was referred to Dr. Bernal and was diagnosed with systemic juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
“There are three types of juvenile arthritis,” Dr. Bernal explained. “Polyarticular juvenile arthritis affects five joints or more, commonly the large joints like the knees and ankles. Then there is pauciarticular juvenile arthritis, which typically affects four or fewer joints. This can also cause eye inflammation, especially in the young. The third type, which Seina has, is systemic juvenile arthritis. This causes high spiking fevers lasting for weeks or even months.
Once Seina was diagnosed, Dr. Bernal began treating her in the conventional method known as the stepladder approach. “We began treatment with antiinflammatory drugs. When those did not work, we took the next step with disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDS).”
In April 2010, Seina was infused with her first dose of tocilizumab. It worked remarkably well; she had her last dose in October 2010 and has been doing well off medications.
Seina is just one of many children diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis every year. The most important thing for parents is to just be aware. Juvenile arthritis can happen at any time. “If left untreated, it can lead to permanent joint damage, impaired skeletal maturation and growth stunting,” Dr. Bernal said, “not to mention the physical pain and limited mobility. ”
Tocilizumab, in combination with methotrexate, is indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe active RA in adult patients who have either responded inadequately to, or who were intolerant to, previous therapy.
Tocilizumab is a prescription drug, and should only be taken in accordance with the advice of a physician.