We do know that JCA is not contagious, so your child did not catch it from anyone and cannot therefore give it to anyone. We also know that heredity plays some part in the development of several forms of arthritis. However, the inherited trait alone does not cause the illness. We think that this trait along with some other unknown factors triggers the disease. It is unusual for more than one child in a family to have arthritis.
Arthritis is characterised by four major observable changes in the joints.
However since JCA affects each child differently your child may not experience all these changes. Children also vary in the degree to which they are affected by any particular symptom. In this form of JCA four or fewer joints are affected. May cause iridocyclitis, an eye inflammation Systemic means affecting the body generally. Systemic JCA affects a childs internal organs as well as joints.