Today, arthritis in children is one of the most pressing problems. Many people believe that arthritis affects older people and is an age-related disease, but it turns out that this is not the case at all. Children under 16 years of age may experience worsening arthritis.
Arthritis is an inflamed joint disease, and nowadays 1 in 1000 children suffer from chronic joint inflammation. Arthritis in children primarily affects the knees, lower back, ankles, feet, elbows, shoulders and joints of the lower and upper extremities. In arthritis, x-rays show wasted cartilage, swollen soft tissue, and narrowed spaces between joints.
There are different types of arthritis in children: infectious, viral, post-streptococcal (rheumatism), post-vaccination, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
Arthritis is also divided into two types: monoarthritis, when one joint is inflamed, and polyarthritis, when the number of inflamed joints exceeds two.
In addition, joint disease can be chronic or acute. In acute arthritis, a person’s joints are damaged in a few days or weeks, but in chronic arthritis, this does not happen so quickly, but over the years, periodically reminding itself.
The causes of arthritis in children are quite extensive. Each type of arthritis has its own pathogens and sources.
To effectively treat arthritis in children, it is necessary to find out the cause of the disease, so first you need to conduct a complete examination of the child.
Treatment of arthritis in children has many features. Treatment should be long-term, complex and staged, including inpatient, outpatient stay of the child in a hospital or in a resort department.
If children have pain in their legs, or if they do not even complain of pain, but limp, these may be the first signs of arthritis. Arthritis is often accompanied by fever, poor appetite, limping, pain in the morning, constant fatigue, weight loss, and swelling of muscles and joints. As health conditions deteriorate, inflamed joints acquire a purplish-red hue and become deformed over time.
Most often, arthritis occurs after acute infectious diseases. Another common cause is injury, which is associated with high physical activity in children.
Predisposing factors for the occurrence of inflammation of the joints are: the presence of malformations of the musculoskeletal system, pathology of other organs and systems in the child, frequent infectious diseases, foci of chronic infection (including chronic tonsillitis, adenoiditis), characteristics of the immune system (including including, a tendency to allergic reactions), family history (presence of arthritis in close relatives) and many others.
Depending on the age of the child, he may be characterized by different types of arthritis. For example, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis most often occurs in children 1-4 years old. The etiology of the disease will also determine the characteristics of its symptoms, such as the number of affected joints, the involvement of various organs in the pathological process, possible complications, and others.
Among the complications that most often occur in children with arthritis are osteomyelitis, sepsis, inflammation of the periarticular tissues (bursitis, tendonitis, and others).
The course of the disease is determined by:
Arthritis in children can have a number of distinctive features, which include:
Thus, arthritis in a young child is often mistaken for another pathology.
But the opposite situations may also occur. For example, a disease such as osteomyelitis, which often occurs in early childhood, has symptoms similar to inflammation of the joint (swelling, redness, limitation of movement and pain), so it can easily be mistaken for arthritis.
Over 3-4 years of age, a child, as a rule, may already complain of pain and discomfort when moving. Such complaints are a reason to consult a doctor.
It should be remembered that some types of arthritis can be painless. Therefore, the possibility of joint inflammation must be remembered even when only nonspecific manifestations of the disease are present.
Diagnosis of joint diseases in children is practically no different from that in adults.
The first thing you should do if you suspect arthritis in a child is to contact a qualified specialist.
Under no circumstances should you try to diagnose, much less treat, the disease yourself.
In children, the disease can develop extremely rapidly, and with untimely or incorrect treatment, irreversible consequences can quickly occur, including destruction (destruction) of joint tissue or the appearance of life-threatening complications (cellulitis, abscess, sepsis and others).
The doctor will examine the child, draw up a plan for the necessary examination and prescribe treatment.
Treatment for arthritis in a child depends on the cause of the disease.
Under no circumstances should joint diseases in children be treated with traditional methods or at home. Most medications commonly used for arthritis in adults are not used in children due to the possibility of severe complications or lack of experience in use in children. “Folk” methods can also harm the child’s body, causing severe allergic reactions, poisoning, or simply being ineffective. Therefore, if there is any suspicion of arthritis in a child, consult a doctor immediately.
Arthritis therapy is complex and staged, including the use of medications, physiotherapeutic procedures, physical therapy, dietary nutrition and other means. Treatment of arthritis in a child is carried out only in a specialized hospital department. Under no circumstances should you refuse hospitalization.
When a joint is inflamed, children need complete rest, which is often impossible to achieve in a small child. Therefore, in the acute period of the disease, it is sometimes necessary to use various orthopedic devices: splints to temporarily limit movements in the joint, special shoes and insoles that support the legs.
Drug therapy is selected individually, taking into account the etiology of arthritis, its severity, the presence of complications, the age of the child and other factors. The main groups of drugs used to treat arthritis in children are:
In some cases, doctors even have to prescribe a drug that is not usually used in children. This is done in cases where the potential benefit to the child is higher than the likelihood of side effects. In any case, the doctor will definitely explain to you the need to prescribe one or another drug. And if in this case you still have questions, don’t forget to ask them. It is better to get answers from a qualified specialist than to look for them in reference books or on forums.
Medicines used to treat arthritis can have a large number of side effects, which is especially unpleasant for children. Therefore, it is necessary to strictly follow the instructions of the specialist. In no case should you independently increase or decrease the dose of the medicine, observe the time of administration (for example, if it is said after a meal, then take it only this way and nothing else) or abruptly stop the course of treatment. Remember, the doctor can only prescribe therapy, and you will have to monitor your child’s medication intake. If you suspect any side effects from using medications, you should immediately inform your doctor.
Along with medicinal drugs, other methods are actively used, which include:
The listed methods continue to be used after the child is discharged from the hospital, at the rehabilitation stage. Sanatorium-resort treatment of children is also provided in specialized sanatoriums and children's camps.
An important part of therapy is following a diet, which includes:
Food should be high-calorie and provide the child with all the necessary nutrients during the acute period of the disease. All possible allergens are excluded (chocolate, products containing preservatives and dyes, red and orange fruits and vegetables), fatty, fried, smoked, hot, spicy foods. Dietary intake may vary depending on the etiology of arthritis. For example, if problems with excess weight have contributed to joint damage, easily digestible carbohydrates are excluded, and if the kidneys are involved in the process (for example, with rheumatoid arthritis), the amount of fluid consumed is limited. Vitamins, polyunsaturated fatty acids and other nutritional supplements are prescribed.
During the recovery stage, the child should move a lot. His physical activity should not be limited. The more mobile the children, the easier the disease progresses, and the less often complications appear. But you should not force your child to engage in physical activity; he should regulate the amount of exercise himself so as not to feel pain and discomfort.
In remission of arthritis, sanatorium-resort treatment is indicated (Sochi, Pyatigorsk, Evpatoria).
Surgical methods of therapy are used in cases where irreversible changes have already occurred in the joint. These include various methods of joint plastic surgery using endoprostheses.
With proper and timely treatment, the prognosis for most arthritis in children is favorable. An exception may be severe advanced forms of pathology, in which vital organs are involved in the process.
A child who has suffered from arthritis can lead the most fulfilling life possible with some restrictions on unnecessary physical activity (for example, playing sports at a professional level is not recommended).
Arthritis in a child can lead to consequences such as joint deformities, growth retardation, destruction of joints with the development of ankylosis. Often recurrent inflammatory processes in the joints can result in the child's disability.
Even if arthritis is suffered without complications, arthrosis will develop in this joint in the future.
After recovery from arthritis, children are advised to undergo long-term follow-up.
The main causes of hip inflammation or arthritis in a child are considered to be injuries, allergic reactions, infections, and immune disorders. In a child, this disease is often accompanied by local changes in the joints: pain, redness, limited mobility, swelling. In addition, childhood arthritis sometimes causes fever and weakness throughout the body.
A whole group of diseases is united under the concept of “arthritis in children.” Such diseases occur with inflammatory damage to the joints. The main cause of damage is infection, trauma, and allergic reaction. There are acute and chronic arthritis in children, and the disease can proceed favorably or leave behind serious consequences, affecting several joints or one. The disease develops gradually, so it can only be diagnosed at a certain stage. It is most difficult to recognize the disease in a newborn.
The inflammatory process proceeds aggressively, with periodic exacerbations and pain. Although children may not always complain about pain. You can suspect the development of the disease if the baby begins to be capricious, his mood changes sharply, he avoids movements and does not eat. If parents notice this behavior, they should urgently consult a doctor and undergo an examination. Progression of the disease can lead to immobilization of the limbs, cardiac amyloidosis, and partial limitation of mobility.
Arthritis in infants is considered the most difficult to diagnose, because... they are not yet able to complain of pain. Another thing that complicates the task is that the child does not yet know how to walk. Each type of illness has its own characteristics. However, there are similar general signs:
If at least one of these symptoms appears, you should immediately consult a doctor. General symptoms of the disease also include:
Arthritis appears in a child for various reasons. Moreover, the disease has several types that arise as a result of certain circumstances. For example, poor living conditions contribute to the development of the disease, especially if the room is dark, damp, and mold grows. Other causes of the disease are:
In addition, due to diseases such as hepatitis B and rubella, viral arthritis may appear in children. Rheumatoid disease often occurs due to a genetic defect in the immune system. Infectious diseases of the intestines and genitourinary system also cause complications in the form of articular reactive arthritis. The causes of the juvenile type of the disease are not yet known to doctors, but it often appears due to a hereditary predisposition.
Among the large number of varieties of childhood arthritis, the main forms are the following:
Still's disease or juvenile rheumatoid arthritis in children occurs in patients under 16 years of age. The disease is often characterized by chronic inflammatory damage to the joints. This type is the most dangerous autoimmune form of the disease, i.e. when a person’s own immunity perceives its tissues as foreign, and therefore tries to destroy them. During illness, a huge amount of fluid accumulates in the joint, which subsequently hardens and destroys the cartilage. The main symptoms of the juvenile form are:
With this type, damage is observed to the joints of the fingers, legs, knees, metatarsals, and, less commonly, to the ankle, hip, sternoclavicular and costal joints, and joints of the upper extremities. The disease begins acutely. The temperature rises to subfebrile, less often febrile levels, and symptoms of intoxication occur. The disease is characterized by the development of achillobursitis, enthesopathy, and spinal rigidity. The main symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis:
3 weeks after an intestinal or genitourinary infection, reactive arthritis may develop. Painful joints begin to swell, the skin becomes tense and turns red. Due to severe pain, the motor and supporting function of the joints is impaired. Timely treatment of reactive arthritis in children has a positive prognosis. The disease in most cases undergoes reverse development. Common manifestations of the reactive form include anemia, peripheral lymphadenopathy, fever, and muscle wasting. Main symptoms of the disease:
This form of arthritis occurs due to infection of the joints by pathogenic microorganisms. The causative agents of infection are often streptococci and staphylococci. As a rule, the disease occurs in children under 6 years of age, and it affects the hip joint. Infectious or septic arthritis in newborns is caused by a gonococcal infection transmitted from a sick mother.
Also, babies can get sick due to hospital procedures, for example, from an inserted catheter. This form of the disease usually begins suddenly. Rarely do symptoms worsen over several months. This is accompanied by increased pain in the joint. In addition, signs of the disease are:
At the slightest suspicion of illness, parents urgently need to contact a pediatrician. Due to the polysymptomatic course of the disease, in addition to the pediatrician, several specialists may be involved in the diagnosis of childhood arthritis: rheumatologist, ophthalmologist, dermatologist, nephrologist, cardiologist. When collecting anamnesis, doctors pay attention to the connection of the disease with past viral infections and rheumatism. After a general examination to make a diagnosis, the doctor may refer the patient to:
Joint inflammation requires long-term complex treatment. As a rule, therapy takes several years, and if the diagnosis was made late or the wrong treatment was carried out, then you will have to fight the disease all your life. Antibiotics and other drugs are prescribed only by a doctor, because In each individual case, the course of medication may vary. Treatment of the disease in children includes:
The approach to the treatment of childhood arthritis involves pathogenetic, symptomatic and etiotropic therapy. For this purpose, specially selected immunomodulators, antibacterial agents, glucocorticoids, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used. The following medications are often used for symptomatic treatment:
Chronic use of medications can lead to negative side effects. Physiotherapy can increase the effectiveness and reduce the dosage of drugs. The disease can be treated with the following physiotherapeutic methods:
Therapeutic massage should be done only during the period of remission. Sessions should be held every day. A private form of manipulation involves treating only sore spots. The duration of the procedure is no more than 30 minutes. The main goal of the first sessions is to relax the muscles, so rubbing and stroking the surface is used. During a massage for arthritis, squeezing and effleurage should not be performed. After the fifth time there is a direct effect on the sore joints, the technique becomes more intense. Massage treatment has the following positive effects:
Effective treatment using traditional methods can be supplemented with non-traditional methods. They should be carried out after consultation with a doctor. To relieve swelling, clay is often used, which is applied in the form of warm compresses to sore joints. Children over 6 years old are often given wraps with thistle infusion. To prepare the infusion you will need 200 ml of boiling water and a tablespoon of herbs. The resulting mixture is kept on the fire for half an hour, then infused for 15 minutes, then filtered, a piece of cloth is moistened in it and applied to the sore spot. Other popular recipes:
Arthritis is considered a disease that accompanies a person throughout his life. To prevent relapses of the disease from becoming a cause of disability and becoming chronic, you should consult a specialist after the first signs of the disease appear. With timely and correct treatment, the child is able to lead a full life, without even remembering the disease. At the same time, physical activity should be limited, performing only light exercises; professional sports for such children are prohibited.
It is sad to realize that such a terrible disease as arthritis does not bypass even the smallest inhabitants of our planet. But harsh statistics say that every thousand child under the age of 3 falls victim to this disease. The peak incidence is considered to be between one and three years of age, but this is purely individual. What are the symptoms and treatment methods for arthritis in children, you will learn from our material below.
If the child is very small and is not yet able to clearly express his complaints, then it can be quite difficult to determine whether he has arthritis.
Parents should be attentive to their child's behavior. You should be wary of the following signs:
Unreasonable whims of the child with possible refusal to eat;
Lameness while walking or playing (the baby tries to walk less and does not allow touching the sore spot);
Complaints of pain without any objective reason (there was no fall or injury);
Swelling and redness in the joint area;
Difficulty raising an arm or leg;
Changes in the child's gait.
If at least one of the above symptoms is detected, you should immediately seek advice from a medical specialist.
The general symptoms of arthritis in children also include the following series of signs:
The appearance of itchy spots and rashes on the skin around the sore joint;
Enlargement of regional lymph nodes located near the source of inflammation.
Proper treatment of arthritis in children is possible only after establishing the true cause of its occurrence.
Causes of childhood arthritis include:
Violation of metabolic processes in the body;
Diseases of the nervous system;
Exposure to low temperatures.
Diagnosing arthritis in children is often difficult. For example, a child suffered from an infectious disease, to which the parents did not attach much importance, and the complication was inflammation of the joints.
Among all the types of childhood arthritis, the following main forms can be distinguished:
Reactive form of arthritis. This is an aseptic inflammatory disease that mainly affects the joints of the lower extremities. The cause is a previous bacterial infection. Reactive forms of arthritis include urogenital and postenterocolitic arthritis. For example, the urogenital form occurs due to an existing infectious process in the organs of the genitourinary system;
An infectious form of arthritis. The occurrence of this form of the disease is facilitated by bacterial, viral and fungal infections. The location of pathogens is the joint cavity itself, into which they enter through the blood or lymph flow. The risk of infectious arthritis increases after joint trauma. Infectious arthritis is most common in children under three years of age;
Juvenile form of rheumatoid arthritis. The etiology of this disease is still not fully understood. It is believed that the determining factor is burdened heredity. Children under 16 years of age are at risk for developing juvenile arthritis. Juvenile arthritis primarily affects large joints, causing them to become enlarged and deformed. The danger of the disease lies in its rapid and steady progression, and in severe cases, even damage to internal organs is possible. The juvenile form of rheumatoid arthritis can occur with inflammation of only the joint apparatus, or may involve the lungs or heart in the process;
Ankylosing spondylitis. Most often, this disease debuts at an early age and manifests itself as a chronic inflammatory process in the peripheral joints and spinal column;
Rheumatic form of arthritis. It is a pathognomonic manifestation of childhood rheumatism. Children under 16 years of age are at risk for morbidity. For diseases such as chorea minor, ring erythema and rheumatism, the unifying feature is their infectious origin. Most often, the cause of their occurrence is streptococcal infection (tonsillitis, sore throat, pharyngitis).
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Treatment of arthritis in children can last a long time, and the approach to it must be comprehensive. Along with drug therapy, special therapeutic massage and physiotherapy are used. If the disease is in the acute phase, outpatient treatment will be ineffective. The child must be in a hospital, where he can be given a special splint to immobilize the diseased joint.
Surgery for arthritis in childhood is indicated only in the presence of severe joint deformation, which can be corrected with prosthetics.
The use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve painful symptoms of the disease;
Taking medications that suppress the immune system, if we are talking about rheumatoid arthritis (immunosuppressants);
Carrying out detoxification therapy;
Strengthening the drainage function of the body.
The use of the first group of drugs helps relieve severe pain, reduce the inflammatory reaction and improve joint mobility.
The following drugs are used for the symptomatic treatment of arthritis in children::
Acetylsalicylic acid. It is a mandatory attribute of conservative drug therapy for arthritis. The advantages of this drug include its effectiveness, but it is strictly contraindicated in case of existing blood clotting disorders;
Diclofenac. Currently, experts have come to the conclusion that the use of diclofenac by children may cause erosive changes in the upper parts of the digestive tract. In addition, it is strictly contraindicated for children under 6 years of age;
Indomethacin has established itself as an excellent anti-inflammatory and anti-edematous agent. Experts have designated it as the drug of choice for the treatment of arthritis in children;
Naproxen is another anti-inflammatory drug. It is indicated for the treatment of rheumatoid and juvenile arthritis in children. Its only drawback is the age restrictions. Naproxen is only indicated for children over 10 years of age.
Detoxification therapy is aimed at activating local and general immunity, harmonizing metabolic processes and normalizing blood circulation in the joint apparatus.
Stimulation of the drainage function is the key to complete removal of toxins from the source of the disease and stimulation of nutrition of the joint area.
The specifics of treatment of reactive arthritis in children are the following sequential actions:
Relief of severe pain;
Neutralization of the infectious focus.
Elimination of the consequences of the disease.
The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) described above are used to relieve pain. If a child is experiencing excruciating pain that cannot be relieved by NSAIDs, one has to resort to intra-articular injections using hormonal anti-inflammatory drugs from the glucocorticoid group (methylprednisolone). Before prescribing corticosteroids, you must be sure that there are no pathogenic microorganisms in the intra-articular fluid.
To eliminate the infectious focus, in the practice of treating childhood arthritis, doctors widely use drugs from the macrolide group. Thanks to their gentle effects, it is possible to avoid serious side effects. The drugs of choice are clarithromycin, roxithromycin and josamycin.
If we talk about the intestinal etiology of the reactive form of arthritis, then, by and large, the fight against intestinal infection will be useless due to its absence at the time of diagnosis. The thing is that when arthritis develops, there is no longer any source of infection in the intestines. Only before potential immunosuppressive therapy should antibiotic therapy with aminoglycosides be administered.
If the disease has become chronic, there is a need for pathogenetic treatment. The main components of such therapy are immunomodulatory drugs that ensure stable functioning of the immune system. These drugs include taquitin, lycopid and polyoxidonium.
For rheumatoid arthritis, no treatment will bring the expected result unless immunosuppressants are used. Only these remedies can stop the process of destruction of the child’s affected joints. Commonly used drugs include cyclosporine, mercaptopurine and leflunomide.
Treatment of juvenile arthritis is carried out using anti-inflammatory drugs in combination with a special diet. Your child's daily diet should include foods rich in calcium. In order for the treatment to take place with maximum benefit, the regime of physical activity and rest should be properly organized.
Non-traditional methods of treating arthritis in children can serve as an excellent addition to conservative therapy.
One of the universal and very effective remedies is white, blue and pink clay. It has a pronounced anti-edematous and anti-inflammatory effect. The clay is suitable for external use in the treatment of arthritis in children over 3 years of age. It must be used in the form of a compress, which is applied to the sore joint, covered with cellophane and wrapped in woolen cloth.
To treat children over 6 years of age, you can use a decoction of thistle herb in the form of compresses and lotions. It is a good adjuvant in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. To prepare the decoction, you need to take 1 tablespoon of thistle herb and pour a glass of boiling water. You need to cook the broth for half an hour, then cool and strain. A small piece of gauze is moistened in the resulting decoction and applied to the sore joint; the compress should be covered with polyethylene and woolen cloth on top.
For older children, going to the bathhouse may be a good auxiliary treatment. Brief exposure to heat on your joints will help relieve pain. However, a bath is unacceptable during the acute period of the disease.
It is important to remember that this kind of procedure can be resorted to only after prior consultation with your doctor.
Unfortunately, arthritis is a disease that accompanies a person throughout his life. Provided the correct treatment is prescribed in a timely manner, the child will be able to lead a full life without remembering his illness. Of course, physical activity will have to be limited to the level of daily exercise, but professional sports for these children are strictly prohibited.
To prevent frequent relapses of arthritis from leading to disability, the child should immediately seek help from a medical specialist immediately after the first signs of the disease appear.
To ease the course of arthritis and not provoke new relapses, parents should follow the following rules:
Eliminate fatty foods and foods that contribute to the development of an allergic reaction from the child’s diet;
The child should always be dressed appropriately for the weather to avoid hypothermia;
In the midst of a viral disease epidemic, parents should take care to take adequate preventive measures;
If a child has a cold, it is necessary to undergo a full course of treatment using physiotherapeutic methods.
Any type of therapy and prescription of medications should be carried out exclusively by a doctor. Only a specialist can select treatment according to the individual characteristics of the child’s body.
Author of the article: Muravitsky Igor Valerievich, rheumatologist
It is believed that arthritis is a disease of older people, but there are reasons that provoke the disease in children.
You will be surprised, but even babies are susceptible to arthritis. Most often, the cause is injury, hypothermia, nervous system disease, poor metabolism, immune system failure, previous infections and lack of vitamins.
Arthritis in children most often worsens after physical activity: difficulty moving joints, lameness, lethargy, decreased appetite, joints become swollen, red and hot to the touch. All these symptoms are accompanied by moodiness and lethargy.
If you notice such changes in your child, contact a specialist immediately.
As a result of physical activity, the child could get injured. Of course, you treated it, but this fact can provoke arthritis in the child. The most common causes of arthritis are ligament injuries, joint dislocations, and cartilage tears.
Unfortunately, children of the new generation spend most of their time on online games, mobile phones or TV. And this, in turn, negatively affects the child’s health. And the end result: displacement of the joints of the back and hips, curvature of the spine and osteoarthritis of the wrist and fingers. Pediatricians advise: 2 hours a day is the norm for children under 12 years of age. This time is enough to watch a cartoon or find the necessary information to do your homework.
This progressive inflammation of the joints of unknown etiology is the second most common, affecting children under 16 years of age.
If a child is overweight for his age or obese, he is at risk of developing arthritis. Why? Because the joints are subjected to additional stress and, as a result, the knees, hips and back begin to hurt. And all this leads to cartilage damage. And here is the result - osteoarthritis is on the verge. In addition, it is worth remembering that excess weight provokes problems with the cardiovascular system and can also cause complexes.
Unfortunately, we must admit the fact that some children start smoking in adolescence. And this is fraught with damage to the joints. If you do not stop smoking cigarettes among teenagers, then the onset of rheumatoid arthritis is not far off. Therefore, be extremely attentive to your child, often ask what he is doing and where he is.
Arthritis is a disease of the musculoskeletal system, accompanied by inflammation of the joints. The disease often affects the knees due to heavy loads on them. It is considered to be a disease of older people, but it also occurs in children up to infancy. How to diagnose and treat arthritis of the knee joint in children will be discussed in the article.
If in adults and elderly people arthritis of the knee occurs due to excessive stress on the joint (excess weight, “standing” work, etc.), then in children the reasons are completely different. Let's look at the main ones.
The main difficulty in diagnosing a disease in a young child is that he cannot always accurately describe what is bothering him. Due to pain and discomfort, a child may be capricious, refuse to eat, or become passive, but for parents (especially if the child has a complex character) this is not always a signal to visit a doctor.
Knee pain usually occurs in the morning and goes away in the evening. That is why parents, noticing that in the morning the baby is limping and complaining, and in the evening he is running around as if nothing had happened, may mistake the complaints for a child’s simulation and not attach any importance to them.
We list the main symptoms:
It is necessary to take into account any changes in the child’s usual behavior, such as fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss, passivity and lethargy.
For treatment, children are prescribed medications, massage, physiotherapy, exercise therapy, and mechanotherapy.
NSAIDs – non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Reduce joint inflammation and relieve pain. The most popular: acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin), Diclofenac, Aceclofenac, Ketoprofen, Meloxicam, Celecoxib, Nimesulide and so on.
[attention type=red]Be careful with drugs from the NSAID group. They have many side effects, so give them to your child strictly as prescribed by the doctor.[/attention]
Antibiotics . Designed to eliminate infection as the main cause of the disease. Mandatory for purulent arthritis, because delay can lead to purulent melting of cartilage and sepsis. Groups of antibiotics used for arthritis: macrolides and fluoroquinolones.
Immunomodulators . Such drugs restore immunity and help the child’s body fight the disease naturally. Immunomodulators are especially necessary for prolonged chronic arthritis. The most popular among them: Polyoxidonium, Imunofan, Imudon, Cycloferon, Taktivin.
Immunosuppressants , on the contrary, suppress the immune system, and are prescribed by a doctor when it is necessary to relieve inflammation and restore mobility to the joint. Examples of such drugs are Sulfasalazine, Azathioprine, Cyclophosphamide, Methotrexate, Leflunomide.
Immunosuppressants have side effects such as the risk of infection, anemia, and impaired production of new blood cells by the body. They are prescribed very rarely, only with a high degree of activity of the inflammatory process.
Glucocorticoids . These are potent steroid hormonal drugs, the purpose of which is to relieve the inflammatory process, restore mobility to the joint, and slow the progression of arthritis.
Doctors prescribe them only in extreme cases, when it is not possible to stop the course of the disease using standard methods, the disease progresses, and the patient becomes feverish and loses weight. Glucocortiroids are prescribed together with NSAIDs; they are not used as monotherapy due to severe side effects.
This type of treatment includes electrophoresis, ultraviolet irradiation, amplipulse, laser treatment, and magnetic therapy. The doctor prescribes each method and associated medications to the child individually, depending on the nature of the disease. As a rule, physiotherapeutic treatment is carried out after the acute period of the disease.
A special set of exercises, selected by the doctor individually depending on the age and characteristics of the disease, is aimed at restoring the motor function of the knee joint.
There are no special preventive measures as such. But at the same time, you can provide the child with proper care and reduce the likelihood of illness. To do this you need:
It is important to start treating a child’s arthritis on time to prevent the disease from becoming chronic. Do not self-medicate, remember: only a specialist can make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe the correct treatment.
Knee arthritis in children . _ Knee arthritis (gonitis) refers to inflammation that starts from the root joint and spreads to the surrounding soft tissues with their further swelling and as a result.
Main menu » Body systems » Joints » Arthritis » Arthritis of the knee joint : causes, symptoms and treatment. . Next entryTypes of arthritis in children : how to treat.
hygroma of the knee joint in children a ganglion (from English “knot”). This is a fairly common problem. Occurs for no particular reason.