Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
Systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a type of JIA in
which a child experiences a very high fever and in some cases a rash, on a
daily basis. Joint pain or swelling may appear a few weeks or months after the
fevers begin.
Systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis is the least common yet
potentially most serious type of JIA. Organs such as the heart, lungs, liver,
spleen, or lymph nodes may eventually be affected. Episodes of whole-body
(systemic) symptoms can last for weeks to years and can come and go during the
first years of the disease. While some children have one course of this disease that lasts 2 to 4 years, others continue to have mild joint pain and flares of other symptoms. A few have ongoing destructive arthritis, often into adulthood, even with treatment.
Systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis is sometimes also called
Still's disease.
Last Revised:
June 5, 2012
Author:
Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
Susan C. Kim, MD - Pediatrics & John Pope, MD - Pediatrics