I am very optimistic about management of rheumatoid arthritis. Yes there are treatments that are not medicinal including physical therapy, exercise, appropriate nutrition, and stress reduction. Not every child necessarily will need medicine. It is important to get accurate information and not be afraid of the medications. Also, participate carefully in a decision about which medicines are needed.
Children are very healthy and do very well with medicines.
I would not hesitate to treat a 2 year old with strong medications if that child needed those medications for arthritis. If the person has Lyme disease, then the treatment would focus on antibiotics. The two diseases can look very similar. Lyme disease can cause joint symptoms. JA refers to arthritis occurring in juveniles, that is children under 16.