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Juvenile Arthritis Symptoms Types Risk Factors Causes and Treatment

Juvenile Arthritis: Symptoms, Types, Risk Factors, Causes, and Treatment

Disease, Pain,

The most common type of Juvenile Arthritis that children suffer from is at the age of 16. Certain forms of this condition can lead to serious complications, including growth issues, joint injuries, and eye inflammation. Treatment is focused on reducing inflammation and pain, improving the eye’s function, and avoiding injuries.

What is Juvenile Arthritis?

Juvenile arthritis (JA), or pediatric rheumatic disease, is not a specific condition. It’s a broad word to define the inflammatory and rheumatic conditions that can develop among children who are younger than. The conditions affect more than 300,000 children and teens across the United States.

The majority of JA are auto-inflammatory illnesses. The immune system is designed to defend against foreign invaders, such as bacteria and viruses, which becomes misguided and releases an inflammatory chemical that attacks healthy cells and tissues. It leads to joint swelling, inflammation, and tenderness in most JA instances. However, some forms of JA are not accompanied by joint symptoms or affect only the internal organs and the skin.

Types of Juvenile Arthritis

There are many kinds of arthritis in juveniles. The classification is based on the following factors:

  • Symptoms
  • The types and number of joints are involved
  • There are certain markers in the blood

Doctors’ classification of juvenile arthritis can help predict the disease’s development.

The most common types of juvenile arthritis include:

Oligoarticular

Oligoarticular is the term used to describe a small number of joints. In this form of arthritis, only a few joints are affected at a young age. Children younger than 8 years old are more susceptible to developing it. For half of the children with oligoarticular juvenile arthritis, just one joint is typically affected by the ankle or knee. In certain cases, this type of arthritis may require just moderate treatment. For certain children, arthritis affects four or fewer larger joints.

Polyarticular

Around 30% of children with arthritis in their juvenile years have the polyarticular form. This kind of arthritis is to be more prevalent among girls than boys.

Polyarticular juvenile arthritis can affect 5 or more joints, including large joints (knees and ankles) and smaller ones (hands and feet). Most often, both sides of your body can be affected.

Psoriatic

Children who have psoriatic arthritis have arthritis as well as:

  • A skin condition that is known as Psoriasis
  • Siblings or parents with Psoriasis

They may also suffer from the appearance of a nail and a diffuse swelling of the finger or toe called dactylitis. In certain cases, only some joints are affected; in other instances, multiple joints, including large and small ones, can be affected.

Enthesitis-related Arthritis

Enthesitis-related joint arthritis is a type of juvenile arthritis typically causes inflammation of tendons, joints, and ligaments. It can even affect the spine. Children with this kind of arthritis may experience joint pain but no obvious swelling. They may also suffer from back discomfort. 

Systemic

Systemic juvenile arthritis can cause swelling, pain, and limited movement in at least one joint. Other signs include rash and inflammation in internal organs like the liver, heart, spleen, and lymph nodes. A fever of 102deg per day for two weeks or more suggests this diagnosis.

Signs and Symptoms of Juvenile Arthritis

woman holding elbows muscle pain

Symptoms can change with time. There are times when symptoms are more intense and are referred to as flares, and when symptoms improve and get better, they are referred to as Remission. These symptoms and signs are:

  • Joint pain
  • Swelling
  • Fever
  • Stiffness
  • Rash
  • Fatigue
  • Appetite loss
  • Inflammation of the eye

The trouble with everyday tasks like dressing, walking or playing

What Causes Juvenile Arthritis?

The root cause of juvenile arthritis is unclear. Like many autoimmune diseases, the individual cases could be due to a mix of genetic causes, environmental exposures, as well as the immune system of the child.

Risk Factors for Juvenile Arthritis

Juvenile arthritis develops in the adolescent and young adult years. Children from any race and ethnic background are susceptible to the illness.

It’s uncommon to have families with more than one member family develop JA. However, children with older family members with chronic arthritis are more likely to be affected. A family member who has Psoriasis is one of the risk factors for developing a form of JA.

Treatment, Management, and Prevention of Juvenile Arthritis

Girl with pony tail sitting with doctor for a checkup

A child who has juvenile arthritis needs an intervention from a pediatric Rheumatologist. The doctor specializes in helping children with arthritis and other related ailments.

The treatment for juvenile arthritis is intended to:

  • Reduce swelling
  • Continue full motion of the affected joints
  • Reduce the pain
  • Maintain the normal development of joint

The recommended medication is:

  • Naproxen is a drug used to treat muscle pain and cramps. Naproxen is part of a group of medicines known as NSAIDs. It blocks your body’s ability to produce a substance that causes fever, pain and inflammation. 
Dental Infections

Dental Infections

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A dental infection begins in a tooth or its supporting structures and may spread to surrounding tissues. Typically, dental infections are caused by bacteria invading the pulp and spreading to the surrounding tissues. Also, infections can affect the gums, causing gingivitis, which leads to periodontitis later on. 

What Causes Dental Infections?

broken tooth

Anything that creates an opening for bacteria to get into the tooth or surrounding tissues can lead to dental infection. Causes may include:

  • Broken, chipped, or cracked teeth: Bacteria can seep into any opening in a tooth and spread to the pulp.
  • Severe tooth decay: A cavity, or tooth decay, is the destruction of the hard surfaces of the tooth. This occurs when bacteria break down sugars in food and drink that produce acid that attacks the enamel.
  • Injury to the tooth: Trauma to a tooth can injure the inner pulp even if there’s no visible crack. The injury makes it susceptible to infection.
  • Gum disease: It is an infection and inflammation of the tissues around the teeth. As gum disease progresses, the bacteria gain access to deeper tissues.

What Are The Symptoms Of Dental Infections?

If your tooth is infected, you may be:

  • Radiating to the jawbone, neck, or ear
  • Continuous or only when chewing
  • Sharp or shooting
  • Gnawing or throbbing 

Other symptoms of infection include:

  • Gum redness and swelling
  • Foul-smelling breath 
  • Bitter taste in the mouth 
  • Tooth sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures 
  • Swollen area in the upper or lower jaw
  • Loosening of the tooth  

You may also experience generalized symptoms such as:

Who Are At Risk Of Dental Infections?

You are more likely to develop dental infections if you:

  • Smoke
  • Have a weakened immune system
  • Have poor dental hygiene
  • Have dry mouth

How to Diagnose Dental Infections?

Along with examining the tooth and surrounding tissue for signs of infection, your dentist may:

  • Recommend an X-ray: This helps detect sources of dental disease that may have led to the infection. 
  • Tap and press on your teeth: A tooth with an abscess is often sensitive to touch or pressure.
  • Recommend a CT scan: If the infection has spread to other areas within the neck, this will help to identify the extent of the infection.
  • Thermal tests: These tests will help your dentist know the health of your pulpal tissues.

What Are The Treatment And Medication For Dental Infections?

dentist checking on woman's tooth

Treatment for dental infection may remove the infection and prevent complications. Treatment options include:

  • Incision and drainage: Your dentist drains the pus from the abscess by making a small incision. It is sometimes necessary to place a small rubber drain to allow drainage.
  • Tooth extraction: When a tooth cannot be saved, your dentist may have to extract it and allow pus to drain from the socket.
  • Root canal: Your tooth is saved if you choose this option. During this procedure, the tooth’s infected inner pulp is removed and the space filled with the material to prevent another infection. Your restored tooth can last a lifetime if you care for it properly.

Medications usually used for the treatment of dental infection include:

Antibiotics

Pain Reliever

Stress and Headache Treatment

Stress and Headache Treatment

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The modern world is stressful, and that is unlikely to change anytime soon. You will likely experience some level of stress from the moment your alarm clock wakes you up until you’re done for the day. Stress may take the form of anxiety or other psychological pressures, or physical stress, such as eye and neck strain from sitting at a computer for long periods. Stress is tolerable in small amounts, but too much can harm your health.

How Can Stress Cause Headaches?

Anxiety and stress

Everyday stress can bring on headaches in a variety of ways because stress causes us to change our behavior without even realizing it.

  • Lots of people clench their jaws and grind their teeth when they’re stressed, both of which can trigger headaches all on their own.
  • When people are stressed, they frequently tighten their necks and shoulders. Tense muscles in the back of the neck and even on the scalp can cause compression several people use to describe stress-related headaches.
  • Anxiety and stress are common culprits of restless nights, and insomnia is a risk factor for tension headaches and migraines alike.
  • Our bodies react to stressful events with a fight or flight response. This involves the release of certain chemicals that can cause physical changes. This, in turn, can bring on tension headaches.
  • Stress can trigger changes in your appetite, which affect the way you eat and drink. Many people may find themselves eating less and even skipping meals when they’re stressed. This can throw blood sugar levels off balance, potentially causing tension headaches and migraines. 
  • Physical stress can also cause tension headaches.

Stress and Headache Prevention 

Regular exercise and relaxation techniques can help reduce stress. 

  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy – this is a talk therapy that may help you learn to manage stress and may help lessen the occurrence and severity of your headaches.
  • Biofeedback training – a technique that teaches you to control certain body responses that help reduce pain. You will learn how to reduce muscle tension and slow your heart rate and breathe yourself.
  • Other relaxation techniques – anything that helps you relax, including yoga, deep breathing, meditation, and progressive muscle relaxation, may help your headaches. 
Drink plenty of water

Additionally, living a healthy lifestyle may help prevent headaches:

  • Drink plenty of water
  • Limit alcohol, caffeine, and sugar
  • Get enough, but not too much, sleep
  • Don’t smoke
  • Exercise regularly
  • Eat regular, balanced meals

Treatment for Stress and Headache 

Using medications along with stress management techniques may be more effective than either treatment alone in lessening your headaches.

Medications used may include:

These medications help you to relieve headaches. Your doctor may prescribe medicines to lessen the frequency and severity of attacks, especially if you have frequent or chronic headaches that aren’t relieved by pain medication and other therapies.

Headaches

Severe and Recurrent Headaches

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At some point in our lives, we’ve all felt the symptoms of a headache. Usually, they are a minor annoyance that can be relieved using over-the-counter pain medication. Headaches can be more complicated than most people realize. Different kinds can have their own set of symptoms, happen for unique reasons, and need different treatments.

Once you know the type of headache you have, you and your doctor can find the treatment that’s most likely to help and even try to prevent them.

Symptoms of Headaches

  • Dizziness
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Throbbing pain or pressure-like pain
  • Sensitivity to light, sound, and smells
  • Pain on one or both sides of the head 
  • Head pain that is moderate to severe in intensity, worsened by physical activity/movement 
migraine with aura

Causes of Headaches

The pain you feel if you have a headache comes from a mix of signals between your brain, blood vessels, and nearby nerves. Certain nerves in your blood vessels and head muscles switch on and send pain signals to your brain. 

Common causes of headaches:

  • Your environment includes strong smells from household chemicals or perfumes, secondhand tobacco smoke, allergens, and certain foods. 
  • Illness may include colds, infections, and fevers. Headaches are also common with conditions like sinusitis, a throat infection, or an ear infection. In some cases, headaches can result from a blow to the head or a sign of a more serious medical problem.
  • Emotional stress and depression as well as alcohol use, skipping meals, changes in sleep patterns, and taking too much medication can also cause headaches. 
  • Genetics. Headaches, especially migraine headaches, tend to run in families. 

Diagnosis of Headaches

You can start an appropriate treatment plan for your symptoms if your headache were diagnosed correctly. The first step is to talk to your doctor about your headaches. They’ll give you a physical exam and ask you about the symptoms you have and how often they happen. It’s important to be as complete as possible with these descriptions. Give your doctor a list of things that cause your headaches, things that make them worse, and what helps you feel better. 

Most people don’t need special diagnostic tests. But sometimes, doctors suggest a CT scan or MRI look for problems inside your brain that might cause your headaches. An EEG (electroencephalogram) is also unnecessary unless you’ve passed out when you had a headache. If your headache symptoms get worse or happen more often despite treatment, ask your doctor to refer you to a headache specialist.

Treatment and Medications for Headaches

Medications for Migraine

Your doctor may recommend different types of treatment to try. They also might suggest more testing or refer you to a headache specialist.

The type of headache treatment you need depends on a lot of things, such as:

  • The type of headache you get
  • How often do you get a headache
  • The cause of your headache

Some people don’t need medical help at all. But those who do might get medications, counseling, electronic medical devices, stress management, and biofeedback. Your doctor will make a treatment plan to meet your specific needs.

Medications can be used for headaches:

Migraine

Migraine with Aura

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Migraine with Aura is also called classic migraine which is a recurring headache that occurs after or at the same time as sensory disturbances called an aura. The disturbances include blond spots, flashes of light, and other vision changes or tingling in your face or hand. 

What causes Migraine with Aura?

Researchers have found that it may be caused by a slow wave of altered brain activity called cortical spreading depression. Temporary changes in the brain’s chemicals, nerves, and blood flow result from this, affecting how the brain works and possibly causing pain.

The discovery of new drugs that could prevent migraine attacks will be made easier by better understanding how these changes in the brain contribute to headaches.

migraine with aura

What are the symptoms of Migraine with Aura?

The symptoms of migraine with aura include temporary visual disturbances that usually strike before other migraine symptoms such as nausea, intense head pain, and sensitivity to sound and light. 

This condition usually occurs within an hour before head pain begins and usually lasts less than 60 minutes. Sometimes migraine with aura occurs without headache. 

Visual signs and symptoms:

  • Changes in vision or vision loss
  • Flashes of light
  • Zigzag lines that gradually float across your field of vision
  • Shimmering spots or stars
  • Blind spots which are sometimes outlined by simple geometric designs

Other temporary disturbances sometimes associated with migraine aura include:

  • Speech or language difficulty
  • Muscle weakness
  • Numbness, typically felt as tingling in one hand or on one side of your face that may spread slowly along a limb

Triggers for Migraine with Aura

Triggers for migraine with aura include:

  • Strong smells such as perfume, smoke, or gasoline
  • Weather changes or barometric pressure changes
  • Medications, such as the use of oral contraceptives or vasodilators for high blood pressure
  • Stress
  • Intense physical activity or overexertion
  • Lack of sleep or too much sleep
  • Food and food additives 
  • Hormonal fluctuations in females 
  • Caffeine consumption
  • Exposure to bright lights or strong sun
  • Alcohol consumption

Diagnosis of Migraine with Aura

Diagnosis of Migraine with Aura

A migraine with aura may be diagnosed based on your signs, symptoms, medical and family history, and a physical exam. Depending on whether your aura is accompanied by head pain, your doctor may recommend tests to rule out more serious conditions, such as a transient ischemic attack (TIA).

Assessments might include:

  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
  • Head computerized tomography (CT) scan
  • An eye examination

Treatment and Medications for Migraine with Aura

For migraine with aura, just as with migraine alone, treatment is aimed at relieving migraine pain.

Medications for relief:

Ask your doctor if these medications are appropriate for you. Some of these medications are not safe to take during pregnancy. If you’re pregnant or trying to get pregnant, don’t use any of these medications without first talking with your doctor.  

Treating Inflammation and Pain in the Muscles and Joints

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Naproxen is an oral prescription drug. It comes in a form of a tablet and liquid that you can drink. It is used to treat inflammation and pain in the muscles and joints. Naproxen works by reducing the hormones that causes pain and swelling in the body.

What condition does Naproxen treat?

Naproxen helps relieve pain and swelling from many conditions such as:

  • Tendinitis
  • Symptoms of gout
  • Arthritis
  • Muscle swelling
  • Menstrual pain
  • Sprains
  • Back pain
  • Strains

How does Naproxen works?

Naproxen is non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). This drug can reduce mild to moderate pain, swelling and fever. It works by reducing the production of prostaglandin chemicals that causes swelling and pain.

What is the dosage for Naproxen?

For arthritis: 500 to 1000 mg every 12 hours

Menstrual cramps: 250 mg every 6 to 8 hours, initial dose is 500 mg

Muscle pain: 500 mg for initial dose followed by 250 mg every 6 to 8 hours

Symptoms of gout: 250 mg every 8 hours, initial dose is 750 mg

Doses for elderly people and people with health problems are lower. For children 2-17 years, the dose is based on their weight.

How to take Naproxen?

  1. Read the product label carefully.
  2. Take the medication by mouth with a glass of water.
  3. Do not crush or chew the tablet.
  4. Avoid lying down at least 10 minutes after taking the medication.
  5. Take Naproxen after meal to prevent stomach upset.
  6. Take Naproxen at the first sign of pain.

What are the precautions in taking Naproxen?

Naproxen is a short-term drug treatment that comes with a risk if you will not take it as prescribed.

  • Do not take Naproxen if you are allergic to aspirin. It can cause severe allergic reactions. Symptoms includes:
  • Hives
  • Trouble breathing
  • Swelling of tongue and throat
  • Inform your doctor about your medical history such as:
  • Asthma
  • Heart disease
  • High blood pressure
  • Kidney and liver problems
  • Stroke
  • Stomach ulcer
  • Using of alcohol, tobacco and this medication may increase your risk of having stomach bleeding.
  • Do not use this medication for a long term or higher than the recommended dosage. As much as possible take the lowest effective dose.
  • Do not use Naproxen during the third trimester of pregnancy.

Costs of Generic Naproxen

The generic brand Naproxen is cheaper than the brand name Naprosyn. Naproxen 250 mg costs $0.32 per unit price or $31.58 for 100 tabs. While the branded Naprosyn 250 mg costs $2.02 per unit price or $202.73 for 10 tablets.