Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis

Written by Dr Sheila Strover on March 14, 2025

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is arthritis affecting a child (under 16) in several joints where evidence exists that the condition is autoimmune - ie the child's own immune system is attacking its joints.

Different types

Several different kinds of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) are recognised. An umbrella name of Idiopathic Juvenile Arthritis embraces the whole group of conditions and then they are sub-classified according to how many joints are affected and other factors found in the blood.