Rheumatoid Arthritis Info

Rheumatoid arthritis in adults is characterized by three distinct stages. In cases in which JRA is suspected, an official diagnosis should be made by a pediatric rheumatologist. Other symptoms include joint stiffness following rest or decreased activity level , and weakness in muscles and other soft tissues around the involved joints. The most common features of JRA are: joint inflammation, joint contracture , joint damage and/or alteration or change in growth. Arthritis is best described by the four major changes in the joints that may develop. JRA can produce serious complications in more severe cases. Indeed, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is the most common form of arthritis in children. The time of onset most typically strikes between the ages of 25 and 50, but in rare circumstances the disease has also been known to occur in children and senior citizens. It has been found that approximately half of all people with RA will experience a remission within 2 years of the initial onset of symptoms.