WHEREAS, Systemic JIA, oligoarticular JIA, polyarticular JIA,
juvenile psoriatic arthritis, enthesitis-related JIA and
undifferentiated arthritis are the six subtypes of JIA; and
WHEREAS, Nearly 300,000 children in the United States have
some form of arthritis; and
WHEREAS, Typical symptoms of arthritis include limping,
stiffness when awakening, reluctance to use an arm or leg,
reduced activity level, persistent fever, joint swelling and
difficulty with fine motor skills; and
WHEREAS, Most children with arthritis can expect to live
normal lives and some even have their arthritis go into
remission; and
WHEREAS, There is a small number of specialists who treat
JIA, and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia is a leader in
the field; and
WHEREAS, According to the American College of Rheumatology,
the best care for a child who has JIA is provided by a pediatric
rheumatology team that has extensive experience and can diagnose
and manage their complex needs; and
WHEREAS, A pediatric rheumatology team may consist of a
pediatric rheumatologist, a physical therapist, an occupational
therapist, a social worker and a nurse specialist who coordinate
care with other health professionals and school and community
officials; and
WHEREAS, The overall treatment goal for a child who has JIA
is to control the symptoms, prevent joint damage and maintain
function; and
WHEREAS, Medications, including steroids, disease-modifying
drugs and biologics along with physical and occupational therapy
are used to treat JIA; and
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