Treatment for Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis

Treatment for Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis

The goal of treatment for juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is to maintain a normal activity level for your child. Specific treatment for juvenile rheumatoid arthritis will be determined by your child's physician based on:

• Your child's overall health and medical history
• Extent of the condition
• Your child's tolerance for specific medications, procedures, and therapies
• Expectation for the course of the disease
• Your opinion or preference
  

Treatment may include:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, nsaids, (to relieve symptoms)
• Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic medications (to slow the progress of the disease, such as methotrexate)
• Corticosteroids (to reduce inflammation and control severe symptoms)
• Physical therapy (to improve and maintain muscle and joint function)
• Occupational therapy (to improve ability to perform activities of daily living)
• Assessment of nutritional status by a nutritionist and ongoing, if necessary, nutritional guidance (to ensure adequate nutritional intake for your child whose appetite may be adversely affected by the disease process itself or some medications used for treatment)
• Regular eye exams to detect early changes of eye inflammations
• Patient education (to help decrease the frequency and severity of flare-ups and prevent complications), including educational topics such as:
  • Exercise and weight control
  • Adequate rest
  • How to use large joints rather than small joints to move or carry things