I do not believe that arthritis is found even in infants. But in the interval from one year to four years, such a diagnosis is made for every thousandth baby.
Arthritis in a child: symptoms
Determining it at such an early age is quite difficult, since the baby does not complain directly about pain. At the same time, he is constantly unhappy, listless, crying, eating poorly. Swelling around the affected joint is not always noticeable. The first signs that signal a possible occurrence of arthritis are an unwillingness to walk independently, actively move, run, limp.
Arthritis in a child can seize different joints and leak differently. Accordingly, the treatment in each case should be carried out strictly individually.
Forms of the disease
1. Oligoarticular juvenile chronic arthritis. This kind of disease captures no more than four joints. Most often, such arthritis is observed in a child under the age of five (mostly girls suffer). This variety very often gives complications to the eyes.
Usually, treatment in this case is carried out by injection into the affected joints. It lasts a long time (about three to four years), but 70% of the children recover completely. And in 30% of babies, the disease develops further.
2. Arthritis of the joints of the fingers. This form of the disease is one of the most painful and unpleasant. The pain in the joints almost does not stop, it is twisting, breaking character. Especially it intensifies (before seizures) before the change of seasons and weather. The pain is so severe that it does not allow you to sleep at night, and as a result of constant fatigue, the body weakens, becomes too susceptible, unstable to various stresses. With arthritis of this form, the joints turn red, the area around them swells, becomes hot. In advanced cases, the disease leads to curvature of the fingers.
Therefore, timely diagnosis and treatment of arthritis of the hands is extremely important. It should be comprehensive and include both a course of antibiotics, the use of painkillers, and physiotherapeutic procedures, support for the body with vitamins.
4. Psoriatic arthritis. This disease is chronic and incurable. It occurs in those who are hereditarily predisposed to psoriasis. People of different ages tolerate it in different ways. Psoriatic arthritis in a child is rare: it occupies no more than 10% of the number of other types of this disease. Most often they suffer from 10-12 year old teenagers.
This is due to the colossal hormonal restructuring of the child's body. Diagnosing psoriatic arthritis can be difficult, as a rash appears on the skin immediately after it. It is often mistaken for eczema or diathesis. Also, the onset of this disease is confused with gout. The result of an incorrect diagnosis is erroneous therapy. Treatment of psoriatic arthritis in children is carried out with the same drugs that are used for adult patients, only, of course, with a reduced dosage. These are anti-inflammatory drugs, glucocorticosteroids, and in severe cases, immunosuppressants. Also, the patient is shown treatment in a sanatorium and observation in a dispensary.