Arthritis affects 1 out of 1000 children. Arthritis in children is similar to arthritis in adults. It can start anytime after birth. Arthritis may affect one or many joints and any size joint. The outlook for juvenile arthritis is often better than that for an adult with arthritis.
Many children recover completely.
All medicines for arthritis cause serious side effects. While many medications for arthritis can have serious complications, the majority of people do well on anti-inflammatory medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen. These are great medicines for many people with different types of arthritis, because they reduce inflammation. Many newer medications are effective in reducing not only pain and swelling, but also the permanent joint changes that can accompany rheumatoid arthritis. Persons with arthritis should not exercise.