JULY HEALTH 

This month let’s focus on our children.   We’ll discuss issues that we assume relate to adult health not recognizing they affect children as well. 

Juvenile Arthritis Awareness

What is juvenile arthritis or pediatric rheumatic disease?  It is the inflammation of the synovium, or the tissue that lines the inside of joints, in children aged 16 or younger.  Juvenile arthritis affects approximately 300,000 children, in the United States.   It is an autoimmune disease, the immune system that normally protects the body, attacks the body instead.  

The common symptoms associated with the disease are:  pain, joint swelling, redness and warmth of the affected area.  Studies have shown each type of arthritis has a unique set of symptoms.  Some effect the musculoskeletal system, eyes, skin, muscles and gastrointestinal tract.

What are the different types of juvenile arthritis?

There are several types.  The most common is Juvenile idiopathic arthritis or JIA with the following subtypes:

• Systemic – or Still's disease, can affect the entire body or involve many systems of the body, causing high fever or rash. The rash can be found on the trunk of the body, arms or legs.  Still’s can affect internal organs, such as the heart, liver, spleen, and lymph nodes, affecting boys and girls equally. 
• Oligoarthritis, also called pauciarticular rheumatoid arthritis.  The joints commonly affected are the knees, ankle, wrists, and can affect the iris of the eye (uveitis, iridocyclitis, or iritis and more common in girls).
• Polyarthritis - also called polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (PJIA), affects 5 or more joints often the same joints on each side of the body.  This type can affect the joints of the jaw, neck, hands and feet and more common in girls.
• Psoriatic arthritis  - affects children suffering from arthritis and psoriasis.  Children will experience psoriasis or the arthritis years before developing the other part of the disease. A sign of the disease is pitted fingernails.
• Enthesitis-related arthritis - affects the spine, hips, eyes, and entheses (the places where tendons attach to bones, most common in boys 8 years or older).  This disease is usually genetic in nature. 
• Juvenile dermatomyositis - An inflammatory disease causing muscle weakness and a skin rash of the eyelids and knuckles.
• Juvenile lupus - autoimmune disease which affects joints, skin, kidneys, blood and other areas.
• Juvenile scleroderma – a condition that causes “hard skin.”
• Kawasaki disease - causes blood-vessel inflammation which can lead to heart complications. 
• Mixed connective tissue disease – may include arthritis, lupus dermatomyositis and scleroderma
• Fibromyalgia - can cause stiffness, achiness, fatigue, sleep apnea and most common in girls after puberty. 

What are the symptoms? 

Symptoms for children can vary from joint stiffness, especially early morning, pain, swelling, tenderness in the joints, a persistent fever, rash, weight loss, fatigue, irritability, eye redness or pain, blurred vision, limping in younger children, or they may appear to have lost motor functions they previously had learned – or they can have no symptoms at all

How is juvenile arthritis diagnosed?

Diagnosis in children is complicated, as they may have no symptoms or the can be associated with other diseases.  There is no actual test for juvenile arthritis.  A complete medical history and exam may be necessary. 

What is the treatment for juvenile arthritis?

Treatment varies for the individual arthritis, but includes both exercise and medications.  Treatment for juvenile arthritis has several main goals:

• relieve pain
• reduce swelling
• increase joint mobility and strength
• prevent joint damage and complications

Supplement and Herb Guide

Here is a list of effective herbs and supplements that can aid in reducing the effects of arthritis.  As, always, before taking any medication, herb or supplement, always consult with your doctor.

• Avocado Soybean Unsaponifiables (ASU) -  is a natural vegetable extract made from one-third avocado oil and two-thirds soybean oil.  ASU blocks pro-inflammatory chemicals, prevents deterioration of synovial cells, which line the joints, and may help regenerate normal connective tissue.
• Boswellia or Indian Frankincense may have some everyday benefits in your daily diet.  Reduces inflammation and treats rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis (OA) and bursitis symptoms. It may also be used to treat symptoms of ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.
• Bromelain - is a group of enzymes found in pine­apple that break down protein. Decreases pain and swelling of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis, and increases mobility.
• Cat's Claw - is an anti-inflammatory that inhibits tumor necrosis factor (TNF), a target of powerful RA drugs. It also contains compounds that may benefit the immune system. Believed to have anti-inflammatory properties; may stimulate the immune system.
• Chondroitin Sulfate - is known to reduce pain and inflammation, improves joint function and slows progression of osteoarthritis (OA).
• Curcumin or Turmeric - reduces pain, inflammation and stiffness related to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA); treats bursitis. Known as a cleansing agent, turmeric often is used as a digestive aid in India.
• DHEA - can help control lupus flares and may help regular the immune system, increases the blood level of DHEA.  Natural DHEA levels have been found to be low in people with rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.
• DMSO - Dimethyl Sulfoxide, (yes it’s still around!) can relieve pain and inflammation, improve joint mobility in osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, JRA and scleroderma, and manage amyloidosis.  
• Fish Oil - reduces inflammation and morning stiffness. Treats rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, depression and Raynaud’s phenomenon. Important for brain function and may inhibit RA development.  Treats rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, depression and Raynaud’s phenomenon. Important for brain function and may inhibit RA development.
• Flaxseed - Eases symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and Raynaud’s phenomenon. Lubricates joints and lessens stiffness and joint pain.  Lowers total cholesterol and reduces risk of heart disease and some types of cancer. Improves hot flashes and dry skin.
• Ginger - Decreases joint pain and reduces inflammation in people with osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Increases circulation in people with Raynaud’s phenomenon.
• GLA - Gamma-Linolenic Acid lessens joint pain, stiffness and swelling associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and also eases symptoms of Raynaud’s phenomenon and Sjögren’s syndromes.
• Glucosamine - slows deterioration of cartilage, relieves osteoarthritis (OA) pain and improves joint mobility.  
• MSM - is an organic sulfur compound that is claimed to reduce pain and inflammation.
• Pine Bark – Pycnogenol contains procyandin, a powerful antioxidant, and also seems to inhibit pro-inflammatory enzymes, including COX 1 and COX 2.
• Rose Hips - powder – a rich source of vitamin C – appears to decrease inflammation by inhibiting production of inflammatory proteins and enzymes, including COX 1 and COX 2.
• Sam-e - known to treat pain, stiffness and joint swelling; improve mobility; rebuild cartilage and ease symptoms of osteoarthritis (OA), fibromyalgia, bursitis, tendinitis, chronic low back pain and depression.
• St. John's Wort - known to act as an antidepressant drug and reduce inflammation and pain.
• Stinging Nettle - a natural supplement that reduces inflammation, aches and pains of osteoarthritis.
• Thunder God Vine - a natural extract that reduces pain and inflammation and treats symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and other auto­immune diseases.

http://www.webmd.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/diagnosing-juvenile-arthritis#3-5Bottom of Form

http://www.arthritis.org/about-arthritis/types/juvenile-arthritis/

http://www.arthritis.org/living-with-arthritis/treatments/natural/supplements-herbs/guide/

SEE YOU NEXT MONTH!

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