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Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
- Symptoms & Signs
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Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, or JRA, is a type of arthritis that causes joint inflammation and stiffness in children under the age of 16.
What is going on in the body?
JRA is an autoimmune disorder. This is a condition in which the body produces antibodies against its own tissue. The autoimmune response can attack the joints, eyes, heart, liver, and other body organs.
What are the causes and risks of the disease?
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder. Many experts believe that this autoimmune response in children has two parts. They believe that some children have a genetic makeup that makes them vulnerable to the condition. When these children are exposed to a factor in the environment, such as a virus, it triggers the autoimmune response of JRA.