Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis

Chronic, inflammatory, systemic disease which may cause joint or connective tissue damage & visceral lesions throughout the body characterised by fever, rash, hepato-spleenomegaly & arthritis in children.

It is a persistent inflammatory arthritis (6 weeks) that begins before age 16 for which no specific cause can be found.

ETIOLOGY 

• Exact cause is unknown.
• Evidence points to autoimmune aetiology.
• Associated with physical or emotional stress.
• Age: Under 16 years of age.
• Sex: Common in girls.
 
Signs

• Fever: remittent.
• Rash on trunk, limbs as patches of erythema.
• Hepatomegaly.
• Splenomegaly.
• Affected joints hot, tender & swollen.
• Effusion of joint.
• Limitation of joint movement.



INVESTIGATIONS for Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis



Blood:

• Hb%: low.
• TLC: 20,000-50,000/cu.mm.
• DLC: increased polymorphs.
 ESR: raised.
• Rheumatoid factor: positive (15%).
• ANA: positive (25%).
X-Ray joint:
• Soft tissue swelling.
• Loss of joint space.
• Irregularity of joint surface.
• Periosteal new bone formation.
• Growth disturbance.

Homeopathic Remedies

1 ABROTANUM
2 ACONITE
3 APIS
4 BELLADONA
5 BRYONIA
6 CHAMOMILLA
7 RHUS TOX
8 MEDORRHINUM