Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Symptoms

These are some of the most common early signs and symptoms of arthritis in children. A child may not have all of these symptoms.

Joints that are warm to the touch
Swelling and tenderness at joints
Fever
Rash
Favoring one limb over another or limping
Pain (often worse following sleep or inactivity)
Stiffness, especially upon waking in the morning
Inability to bend or straighten joints completely
Decreased physical activity
Fatigue
Sleep problems
Swollen lymph nodes
Reduced appetite and/or weight loss

Not all children with JIA will have the same symptoms, and some symptoms are specific to a subtype of JIA. Symptoms can change from day to day or throughout a single day.

It’s important to talk to a child’s doctor to ensure that these symptoms mean that a child has JIA instead of an injury or a different illness. Then parents and the doctor can begin the process of monitoring symptoms to establish a pattern. Arthritis affects every child differently, so it’s important to recognize the signs so that a timely and accurate diagnosis can be made to ensure the best possible outcome for a child’s health and well-being.