M08: Juvenile arthritis

M08.0: Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, also known as juvenile idiopathic arthritis, is a type of arthritis that occurs in children aged 16 or younger. It causes inflammation and stiffness in the joints for more than six weeks. Unlike adult rheumatoid arthritis, which is chronic and lasts a lifetime, children may outgrow juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. However, the disease can affect bone development in the growing child and cause complications such as growth problems, joint damage and eye inflammation. Symptoms include pain, swelling, tenderness in the joints, and in severe cases, it may result in limited mobility of the affected joint. The exact cause of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is unknown. It is thought to be an autoimmune disease, which means the body mistakenly attacks healthy cells in the body's joints, causing inflammation and damaging tissues.