Rheumatoid arthritis is a crippling disease that affects young and old alike. Although there is no cure for this autoimmune disorder, there are a variety of treatment options, ranging from medication, to natural remedies, to lifestyle changes. Read on to learn more about rheumatoid arthritis, including symptoms, treatment options, and more.
People often fail to understand that children too can suffer from
arthritis. The problem is that parents and teachers don't know how to
treat them. Rheumatoid Arthritis, also referred as RA, is a chronic
disease that damages joints of the body making them painful and swollen.
In fact, the damage is caused by the body's response to the immune
system. The inflammation leads to pain, swelling and tenderness. If
inflammation is not cured properly in the early stages it can affect the
lungs, eyes, and other organs long-term.
It is said that 1 out of
every 1000 children has rheumatoid arthritis. But in most cases
children have mild symptoms compared to adults, especially the elderly.
Many children get acute inflammation that leads to viral or bacterial
infection. A child can suffer from this disease from infancy to the age
of sixteen. Mostly, children get this disease at the age of two to
twelve. It has been observed, that girls have more chances of getting
this disease as compared to boys. Children suffering from rheumatoid
arthritis are affected with less growth of the bones. Due to this,
overall health of the children is affected and they don't actively
participate in sports and other physical activities. Growth can resume
when the disease is controlled.
The symptoms can vary in every
child on a daily basis. A child can suffer from joint stiffness one day,
and might not be able to move comfortably. In many cases, the symptoms
of the disease are not apparent. It is because the damage is done
internally, and others cannot see the signs. The height of such a child
is less than average, and shows signs of stiffness in walking.
If
your child is suffering from this painful disease you must motivate him
to go for regular therapy sessions. The pediatrician will suggest some
exercises that are useful for mobility of joints, and helps to reduce
swelling around the joints and other areas. The treatment is necessary
from the health point of view, and helps to restore confidence so that
the children can participate in all activities. There are many
medications for the treatment that can be given to the children to ease
the pain. There are many medicines that can reduce the inflammation. The
doctor can suggest the dosage of medicines for children to give them
some relief If, there is no improvement after six weeks, you must
consult the doctor.
