Juvenile Arthritis
Juvenile Arthritis
- Juvenile Arthritis Programme
- Questions parents frequently ask
- JA & School:
- JA & Playtime
- Benefits & Entitlements
- Useful Contact
- Juvenile Arthritis Personal Story - Meet Peter
Juvenile arthritis (JA) is the most common rheumatic disease in children affecting up to 1000 children in Ireland. The diagnosis of JA requires the onset of the disease before sixteen years of age, disease duration of more than three months and careful exclusion of other conditions that cause arthritis.
Several sub-groups of JA have been recognised and include oligoarticular JA affecting four or less joints at onset, polyarticular JA involving five or more joints at onset, and systemic JA which affects many parts of the body. The aim of management is to suppress inflammation, conserve joint function, stop deformity.
Although JA may be of long duration and without specific cure, the ultimate prognosis is usually good. To promote compliance and psychosocial adjustment one should be open and educated from the beginning, involving family and school.
Living with arthritis also means accepting new realities. With the rapid advances in research, a cure may be found for some of the forms of arthritis in your relative's lifetime. Until then, however, living day to day presents a challenge.
Children with JA should be encouraged to lead as normal and self sufficient lives as possible. With education, encouragement, and adequate treatment most can lead active lives, attend school and participate in most activities.
Do you have unanswered questions or worries?
Juvenile Arthritis not only impacts your child’s life but also that of the entire family. Arthritis Ireland run a dedicated Juvenile Arthritis Programme These services have been designed to give your family the knowledge and support required to see a brighter future by specifically addressing the issues associated with growing up with this challenging disease. Our services include;
Information leaflets and publications; Arthritis Ireland offers a comprehensive range of information leaflets to help you and your family better understand all aspects of living with this chronic condition. These include When a child has arthritis, When a teenager has arthritis and Tim has Arthritis, an information booklet for 4-8 year-olds.
Our magazine Arthritis Life’s JA Section contains real life inspirational stories about living with JA, practical tips and advice, updates on all JA events and more.
Parent2Parent Network; talking to parents who are dealing with the same issues as you are is one of the best ways to be supported and stay informed. Our Parent2 Parent Network puts parents in similar situations in touch with each other so that they can give the unique support and understanding that comes from living with juvenile arthritis.
Online Networking and Supports; parents and young adults can stay connected with each other through our Arthritis Ireland Facebook Page and our dedicated JA Facebook group Kids can have arthritis too… These pages are a great way to support and be supported by your peers, whilst having up to the minute access to information and news.
Those under the age of 18 can stay connected via our Juvenile Arthritis Bebo Page, JasperIreland. This forum allows children living with arthritis to befriend each other, share stories and reduce their sense of isolation.
Our CHAT (Children have Arthritis Too), online chat room has been created specially for young people (13-18) living with arthritis. This safe and monitored online chat room offers children with arthritis a unique forum to share their thought ands views on growing up with arthritis.
Arthritis Ireland Helpline; This Helpline provides practical and emotional support to parents of children and young adults with arthritis. Anyone looking for information on JA can get in touch – young adults; family members; friends; teachers and health professionals.
School Supports; we liaise with schools to fully inform your child’s teachers and fellow students about living with juvenile arthritis by giving educational talks and information and support.
JA Events & Activities; We run the highly successful JA Independence Break. This adventure weekend works to increase the young person’s confidence and sense of independence thereby giving them the skills to better cope with their disease and integrate into regular school and social activities.
Our Juvenile Arthritis Family Information Days benefit families by allowing them to access expert information and opinion from a range of disciplines. In addition, the families and the children with juvenile arthritis come to share experience and gain support from each other.
Awareness and Lobbying; JAsper, our JA mascot, has been created to raise awareness of JA and the effects of the condition on the lives of children and their families. Lack of awareness of JA is widespread and can even apply to the medical community, resulting in some children not receiving correct diagnosis and treatment early enough. Each year in October, Arthritis Ireland launches its JAsper campaign to help raise funds and awareness for Juvenile Arthritis.
We work closely with the HSE and Department of Health and Children to secure improved rheumatology services for children, young people and adults with arthritis. As a result of our ongoing lobbying campaign, we have the support of a number of elected representatives who have pledged their support to our campaign for improved services.
For more information or to join our JA Programme contact Michelle Towey on 01 6470208 or email mtowey@arthritisireland.ie
Peter, aged 10 shares his story of living with Juvenile Arthritis...Since this dvd was made we are all delighted to say that Peter has gone into remission ... Keep well Peter!!