What Medications Treat Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis?

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What Medications Treat Juvenile Idiopathic
Arthritis?

• Manipal Hospital

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• Nearly three hundred thousand children, from
  infants to teenagers in the United States alone
  suffer from some sort of arthritis.
• Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most
  common type of arthritis among the children.
• The meaning of the term idiopathic is - "unknown
  origin." It was previously known as Juvenile
  rheumatoid arthritis or JRA.
• However, current researches indicate a genetic
  side to Juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Some
  researchers in the field are of the view that a
  trigger like a virus can start the disease in a
  child who has got this genetic tendency.

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NSAIDS or Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs -

• These medications like ibuprofen (Motrin,Advil
  and others) and naproxen help to reduce pain and
  swelling. The side effects of these medicines
  include stomach upset and liver problems.
• When NSAIDs fail to cure the symptoms of swelling
  and pain, doctors prescribe these medications.
  They may also be taken in combination with
  DMARDs.
• Some commonly used DMARDs for children are
  methotrexate (Trexall) and sulfasalazine
  (Azulfidine). Side effects include nausea and
  liver related problems.
• Since JIA is caused by overactive immune system,
  medications that suppress immune system are used
  in treatment of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis.
  Some common medicines that are administered
  include abatacept (Orencia), rituximab (Rituxin),
  anakinra (Kineret) and tocilizumab (Actemra).
  These medicines increase the risk of infections
  and cancer.

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 Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers -

• Etanercept (Enbrel) and adalimumab (Humira) are
  TNF blockers that help to reduce pain, swollen
  joints and morning stiffness.
• Just like immune suppressants these medicines
  increase the risk of having infections and some
  mild cancers like lymphoma.
• Medicines like prednisone may be used to prevent
  inflammation of the sac around the heart and
  other complications
• Corticosteroids can be administered either by
  mouth or directly into a joint with the help of
  an injection.
• The side effects of these medicines include
  increase in susceptibility to infection and
  interference in normal growth. It should be used
  for the shorted possible duration.
• In addition to the medications, the doctors will
  recommend the child to be consulted with a
  physical therapist to help in keeping the joints
  flexible and maintain the muscle tone.
• The physical therapist will suggest any
  protective equipment that may be necessary along
  with the best exercises.
• In rarest cases a surgery may be performed to
  improve the position of joint for a child
  suffering from Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis.

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Pediatric Infectious Diseases And Its Treatments
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• Infectious diseases are disorders caused by
  organisms such as bacteria, viruses and fungi.
• Though families take utmost care and precaution
  in the upbringing of a child, sometimes certain
  infectious diseases may develop which needs to be
  diagnosed by a pediatric who specialises in
  dealing with infectious diseases in children.

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Pharyngitis

• Pharyngitis is an infection which leads to the
  inflammation of pharynx, situated in the back of
  the throat.
• It is more commonly referred to as sore throat.
  Pharyngitis may also cause scratchiness and
  difficulty in swallowing.
• Drinking plenty of fluids and eating warm broth
  can help relieve the symptoms. Resting and
  gargling with warm water also helps to cure it.
• In certain cases antibiotics maybe prescribed by
  the doctor.