By knowing that they're out there, we can include them in the other support services we offer. The U-M Pediatric Rheumatology Parent to Parent Program also serves as the support network for families who contact the Arthritis Foundation of Michigan. Juvenile arthritis is arthritis that causes joint inflammation and stiffness for more than six weeks in a child 16 years of age or less. The inflammation causes redness, swelling, warmth and soreness in the joints, although many children do not complain of joint pain. It's estimated that 285,000 children are afflicted with juvenile arthritis in the United States.
Juvenile arthritis is the leading cause of disability in children.
The main difference between juvenile and adult arthritis is that in the vast majority of cases, prompt and proper treatment of juvenile arthritis will result in an adult life free of active disease and free of disability.