Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and the spondyloarthropathies

Abstract

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) and the spondyloarthropathies affect approximately one in a thousand children under the age of 17 years and are more common than diabetes, cystic fibrosis, and many other chronic conditions. The author explores differential diagnoses for musculoskeletal pain, classifies types of JRA and the spondyloarthropathies, and describes how such conditions may be effectively managed with drug and physical rehabilitation therapy. The article also discusses behavioral, school, and vocational issues.