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Malachi Neat is 14 years old and his dream is to enter the British Navy. However, he fears that this does not become reality because of his juvenile arthritis in the eyes.
"I do not think anyone will look at me and say," Oh, yes, he has arthritis in his eyes. "It's not something that's noticed on the outside, I see myself as a normal, healthy young person." But deartntro feels pain.
Eyes are just one of the many manifestations of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), "a disease caused by the immune system of children under 16 who are burning their joints," says Debajit . Sen, rheumatologist for children and co-director of London-based Center for Rheumatology Adolescent
"There are subtypes of JIA in which the manifestation in the eyes is not uncommon." In fact, between 30 % and 50% of children with this disease show symptoms in the eyes "says Dr. Sen in statements to BBC World.
" Essential Ophthalmologic Examinations in patients should be performed regularly, advises the specialist. "
But the JIA is not only manifested in the eyes
Symptoms
The word arthritis means" inflammation of the joints. "" But in children, unlike the adults, his cause is unknown.
His main symptoms are pain, swelling and heat in the joints in episodes lasting at least six weeks, as explained in BBC World Dr. Sen
Unknown, but common
JIA is more common than previously thought. "I've been doing this for 15 years and in my conversations with parents one of the usual questions is how could this happen to my son or daughter." In general, they think that this only happens to older people. "
The doctor explains that, contrary to the stereotype, arthritis does not only depend on age and that the incidence of JIA is one in Young people
In the United States, for example, nearly 300,000 children suffer from juvenile arthritis.And in the United Kingdom, the National Health Service (NHS) estimates that there are 15,000 young people and children suffering from this disease
In Latin America, the figures are not clear.
There are initiatives to clarify the situation, such as a research project of the Pan American League of Rheumatology to know characteristics of the presentation, prevalence, incidence, evolution and therapeutic possibilities of the disease in the different countries of Latin America.
Strange manifestations
The JIA can begin to from 6 months, even if it is unlikely. The pro problem of early onset is how to diagnose it.
"When children are 4 years old or older, they already communicate," says the doctor. But with less of this age, it is harder for parents to recognize the symptoms.
"In general, children aged 1 to 2 years have symptoms such as walking late or not using the affected limb," explains. infant rheumatologist.
In adolescents, it is easier to diagnose, although not always the manifestation of this condition is obvious or develops in the most common places, such as the extremities. It can also affect other parts of the body, such as the eyes.
Malachie is under treatment and her illness is controlled, but there are days when the side effects are devastating . "The bad days, you can wake up with acute stomach pain, headaches, completely tired.You feel very sick."
According to the Mayo Clinic in the United States, the most common symptom Frequent related to the eyes is drought.
"Dry eyes can be a symptom of Sjogren's syndrome, an autoimmune disorder It is often badociated with rheumatoid arthritis."
Autoimmune
The cause of JIA is still unknown, but several studies indicate that there could be a genetic predisposition.
It is usually caused by an overactive immune system which, by an operating "error", damages the joints. Therefore, juvenile arthritis is considered an autoimmune disease.
In any case, it is not contagious and usually improves over the years.
"In general, between 40% and 50% of children The JIA remains in remission, that is to say that the disease eventually disappear ," says the doctor
and although many patients continue to manifest it in adulthood, they have no major complications. "95% of patients in my clinic are pretty well controlled and lead a normal life," says the rheumatologist.
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