Updated | December 22, 2022 Author : Ana Filipa Mourão Juvenile rheumatic diseases affect the tissues and structures of the locomotor system and begin before 16 years of age . They share some symptoms, the most common being joint pain and swelling, but each one has its own particularities. They can also reach other organs and body systems, for example the eyes, skin, kidneys, lungs, and digestive system. The main juvenile rheumatic diseases are: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis; Juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus; Juvenile dermatomyositis; Vasculitis, juvenile scleroderma, fibromyalgia, Behçet's disease and Henoch-Schoenlein purpura are some more examples of this group of diseases. Juvenile idiopathic arthritis In Portugal, juvenile idiopathic arthritis is the most frequent rheumatic disease in children and adolescents and is the most common form of arthritis. It affects 1 in every 1000 school-aged children; It can appear at any age, but around 40% of cases begin before the age of 5 and 15% before the age of 24 months; In general, the disease affects girls more than boys; The most common signs and symptoms are joint pain and swelling, morning joint stiffness, fever and spots may appear on the body; The most common form of disease is oligoarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis , which involves up to four joints in the first 6 months of disease progression and accounts for almost 50% of cases. Juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus In about 15% of people with systemic lupus erythematosus , the diagnosis is made before age 18. Systemic lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease; Before puberty it affects males more, after puberty females are the most affected; It can reach the skin, joints, blood, kidneys, central nervous system, among other tissues and systems; One of its main features is a reddish rash on the skin of the face, shaped like a butterfly (such as the spots on the coat of a wolf head, or lupus in Latin). Juvenile dermatomyositis Juvenile dermatomyositis is a rarer rheumatic disease , about 4 cases are diagnosed per year in a million children and young people. It affects girls more than boys; It can develop at any age, but usually the diagnosis is made between 4-10 years old; It affects the blood vessels of the skin and muscles; It causes inflammation and muscle weakness, especially in the muscles of the trunk, hips, shoulders and neck; Skin patches in various parts of the body are another of its manifestations. Diagnose and treat early to promote quality of life More than half of children with rheumatic diseases still show some sign of the disease or some functional sequelae when they reach adulthood. Therefore, an early diagnosis is important so that the appropriate treatment is initiated . Treatment counteracts disease progression, restores organ function, promotes normal growth, and minimizes short- and long-term consequences. In short, it controls these diseases that have an impact on the quality of life of children and consequences on adult life. In recent years, great progress has been made in the treatment of juvenile rheumatic diseases , particularly in the area of biotechnological therapies. Ensuring regular health monitoring of children and adolescents and being aware of signs that something may not be right is the first step towards identifying problems early. Families play a key role in early diagnosis and referral to a rheumatology consultation. Meet the rheumatology clinical team from Hospital da Luz network. The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item.
