Juvenile idiopathic arthritis is the most common chronic inflammatory disease in children and adolescents. What characterises this disease?

Arthritis or rheumatism – when you first hear those words, they sound like things that only affect old people. However, children and adolescents can also be affected by a rheumatic disease. If this breaks out before the age of 16 and lasts longer than 6 weeks, doctors call this juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

The disease progresses in episodes. In most cases, the joints are affected by inflammation –  the synovial membrane to be more precise. The inflammation causes this to swell and press against the joint capsule surrounding the joint. This can lead to the loss of cartilage and bone, causing the joints to become deformed. Severe pain and growth disorders are the result.