Systemic Onset JRA

Systemic arthritis, like other systemic illnesses, affects the entire person or body systems. This is the least common form of JRA. Systemic onset JRA affects boys and girls equally. 

Signs and Symptoms

Symptoms include:

• Daily high spiking fevers (103 degrees or higher) that may last for weeks or even months
• A rash of pale red or pink spots that appear on the child's chest, thighs and occasionally other parts of the body (the rash may accompany the fever and may come and go for many days in a row)
• Joint pain and inflammation that may accompany the fever or begin weeks or months later. Joint problems can become a major long-term symptom.
• Inflammation of the outer lining of the heart (pericarditis) or lungs (pleuritis)
• Anemia and high white blood cells and platelets (cells that help with clotting)
• Enlarged lymph nodes, liver or spleen.

Other Important Information
Blood work is usually checked frequently in the first few weeks and months of illness to monitor your child's progress.

For some children the systemic symptoms of the disease and the fever may go away completely after the first few months of the illness, although the joint-related symptoms of arthritis may remain for a longer period of time.

Systemic onset JRA seems to disappear within one year of onset in about half the children diagnosed. Flares, or a return of the illness, can appear without warning or after some viral infections (mononucleosis or chicken pox, for example).

Most children with this form of JRA will be treated with medications for months or years to control both the systemic part of the illness, such as fever, rash, anemia, etc., and the arthritis.

Uveitis or eye inflammation is uncommon in children with systemic onset JRA so their eyes only need to be checked once a year.