Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)
Arthritis that begins in childhood. Common, treatable, and with one hidden risk — to the eyes — that every family should know about.
What is juvenile idiopathic arthritis?
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is arthritis that starts before the age of 16 and lasts for at least 6 weeks, with no other cause found. It is the most common type of arthritis in children — and, contrary to what many families are told, children do get arthritis.
The main types
| Type | Typical features |
|---|---|
| Oligoarticular | Up to 4 joints, often a knee; young girls; high risk of silent eye inflammation |
| Polyarticular | 5 or more joints; can resemble adult rheumatoid arthritis |
| Systemic | Daily high fevers, rash and arthritis |
| Enthesitis-related | Older boys; heel and back pain; HLA-B27 — related to adult spondyloarthritis |
| Psoriatic | Arthritis with psoriasis or a family history of it |
Signs parents notice
- Limping, especially in the morning, that eases during the day
- A swollen knee, ankle or finger
- Stiffness after naps or long car journeys
- Reluctance to walk, write or play as before
- Fevers and rash (systemic type)
How it is treated
- NSAIDs for symptoms; steroid injections into swollen joints
- Methotrexate — the main disease-modifying medicine
- Biologics for disease that does not respond — very effective
- Physiotherapy, school support, and attention to growth
- Scheduled eye screening
Children are usually looked after by a paediatric rheumatologist. With modern treatment, most live full, active lives.
Growing up with JIA: moving to adult care
Around the late teens, care moves from children's services to an adult rheumatologist. This "transition" is a vulnerable time — young people may stop medicines, miss appointments, or have questions about alcohol, contraception and pregnancy they don't want to ask in front of parents. A planned handover, with the young person increasingly managing their own care, works best.
Common questions
Can children really get arthritis?+
Why does my child need eye checks if their eyes look normal?+
Does JIA continue into adulthood?+
A young adult with JIA moving to adult care?
Continuity of care through the late teens and twenties keeps the arthritis controlled. Walk-in, no appointment needed.
Clinic timings & location