It’s one of Life’s stubborn and unhelpful myths that ‘arthritis only happens to old people’. Nothing could be further from the truth. 

Arthritis comes in some 200 different forms and affects people of all ages, including around 12,000 babies and children in the UK, and 27,000 under 25s. About one child in every 1,000 develops inflammatory arthritis, which in children is called ‘juvenile idiopathic arthritis’ (JIA).  

JIA is an umbrella term describing arthritis with no known cause in people aged under 16. It shows up mainly in younger children, and most forms are slightly more common in girls. Despite uncertainty as to its cause, doctors can treat JIA, and most children with the disease can manage it, and lead active lives.

There are three main types of JIA:

1. Oligo-articular JIA is commonest. It affects four or fewer joints, usually  knees, ankles and wrists. Thankfully, this type has reasonable recovery rates but there is a risk of residual eye problems.

2. Polyarticular JIA (or polyarthritis) develops at any age, involves five joints or more, and has similar symptoms to adult rheumatoid arthritis. It can wildfire from one joint to another and a fever or rash may accompany.

3. Systemic onset JIA begins with rashes, fever, general malaise, and swollen glands, and then develops inflammation of the joints. It ,too, can affect children of any age.

The main physical symptoms of JIA include pain, fatigue, stiffness, red, hot swelling of the joints, restricted movement, and fatigue. However, children and young people with arthritis can experience social and psychological effects too – bullying for having a so-called ‘granny disease’, disability and fatigue-related exclusion and isolation, body image and self-esteem issues at a time when most young people are already sensitive – and that’s where  Arthritis Care’s support services may help.

Services available:

The Source, Arthritis Care’s helpline for under 26s,  offers  free and confidential support and information for young people and their parents, carers, teachers and families wanting to know about living with arthritis.   Phone:  0808 808 2000   (10am-4pm weekdays) Email:

TheSource@Arthritiscare.org.uk for a range of free books and booklets, including ‘A Day with Sam’ - for children under 7 -  and ‘Kids with Arthritis – a Guide for Families’

Over 15s can join the free-to-enter young people’s discussion zone on Arthritis Care’s website www.arthritiscare.org.uk for moderated peer support and experience sharing.

No Limits -  magazine for 15-20 year olds

Positive Future Workshop: Residential weekends for 12-18 year olds to meet others with arthritis. Course leaders are 18-25 year old volunteers with arthritis who give participants a steer about getting what they want from life – plus activities like rock climbing and sailing.

Arthritis Care

Voted Health Charity of the Year 2008-2009 by the Medical Journalists’ Association

Free Helpline 0808 800 4050 10am-4pm weekdays