Quiz – Not Your Grandma’s Arthritis

We tend to think of arthritis as a problem of aging, but the condition from years of wear and tear is more specifically known as osteoarthritis.  Rheumatoid arthritis, on the other hand, can affect people of any age, including children. Along with the symptoms shared with adult rheumatoid arthritis, such as joint pain, swelling, and stiffness, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis can also cause inflammation in the eyes. Learn more about this disease by taking our quiz:

1. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic condition that causes inflammation of the joints. The pain, stiffness, and swelling of the joints may make daily activities, such as tying shoes, difficult.

A. True

B. False

2. Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, or JRA, is a form of arthritis in children ages 16 or younger. It is _____.

A. A complication of obesity

B. An indicator of poor bone health

C. An autoimmune disorder

D. A result of trauma to the joints

3. One type of JRA is called pauciarticular, and it affects 4 or fewer joints.  About __ percent of children with JRA have this type.

A. 10

B. 15

C. 30

D. 50

4. Like adult rheumatoid arthritis, JRA is chronic and lifelong.

A. True

B. False

5. If your child has JRA, you can help best by _____.

A. Making sure your child sticks to the doctor’s treatment plan

B. Finding ways to make physical therapy fun

C. Working with your child’s school to make sure help is available as needed

D. Encouraging your child to get enough exercise and sleep

E. All of the above

Answers:

1. A. True. In some cases, the inflammation can be severe enough to cause deformities in the finger joints, affecting the appearance and function of the hands.

2. C. An autoimmune disorder. The body’s immune system attacks its own healthy cells and tissues, causing inflammation. The exact cause is not known, but genetics can be a factor as the disease can run in families.

3. D. 50. There are two other types: polyarticular and systemic. Polyarticular affects 5 or more joints. Systemic onset JRA is the most serious because it also causes inflammation of internal organs. It is also the least common, affecting 10-15 percent of children with JRA.

4. B. False. Symptoms can sometimes appear during separate episodes, and children often outgrow JRA. However, the disease can affect bone development.

5. E. All of the above. There may also be a local or online support group for children with JRA that your child could join. 

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