Juvenile Arthritis.

Last updated Wednesday, December 22, 2004

Prognosis and impacts

How serious is juvenile arthritis? Is juvenile arthritis chronic?

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease--one that may last for many years. Eventually, there are good chances that your child will get well and experience no serious, permanent disability. Children with JRA can usually keep up with school and many social activities. Some changes may need to be made when the child is in a flare or if there has been joint damage.

Sometimes, the signs and symptoms of JRA may go away. When this happens, it is called a remission. A remission may last for months, or years, or even forever. But no one can be sure this will happen in your child.

While most children with JRA do well in the long run, parents should be aware of possible long-term consequences. Children with pauciarticular JRA have a higher risk of chronic eye inflammation. Some children with polyarticular or systemic JRA may have serious joint problems or develop other long-term complications, such as decreased growth.

There is no fast and simple solution to JRA. The most important thing you can do is work with your doctor and other health professionals to manage the disease and keep it under control.

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