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Enthesitis-related JIA

Enthesitis (say: en-the-si-tis)-related JIA involves inflammation in both the joints and the entheses, which are the spots where tendons or ligaments attach to bones.

Quick facts about enthesitis-related JIA

Enthesitis-related JIA affects more males than females. It affects the knees, ankles, heels, hip and sacroiliac joints. There is often swelling of the joints in the fingers and toes, called dactylitis.
Enthesitis-related JIA affects more males than females. It affects the knees, ankles, heels, hip and sacroiliac joints. There is often swelling of the joints in the fingers and toes, called dactylitis.

Here are a few things you should know about enthesitis-related JIA:

• It occurs in approximately 10% of young people who have JIA.

• It usually happens in late childhood or adolescence.

• It is more common in boys than girls.

• The arthritis usually involves joints and entheses in the legs. The hips are often affected.

• Enthesitis is most common around the knees, heels, ankles, and bottom of the feet. Therefore, knee, heel, and foot pain are common with activities.

• Often enthesitis-related JIA will affect the spine and the joints in the lower back and lead to pain and stiffness in the back and neck.

• People with this type of JIA may have swelling in the tendons of the fingers and toes, which may make them look like sausages. This is called dactylitis.

• There is sometimes inflammation of the small joints of the feet, called tarsitis.

• The joint inflammation of enthesitis-related JIA often lasts into adulthood.

• Enthesitis-related JIA may be associated with inflammation of the skin, eyes, or bowels.

• Many young people with enthesitis-related JIA carry a protein called HLA B27 on their cells.

Enthesitis-related JIA can vary in severity. Some young people may have mild joint and tendon pain every once in a while. Others may have flares that cause pain and trouble walking. A small number of young people with enthesitis-related JIA may develop serious spine and hip inflammation when they are adults. This condition is called ankylosing spondylitis. Treatment depends on the severity of the disease and other complications, and can involve DMARDs and biologic medications.

 

Welcome to the Taking Charge: Managing JIA Online Program! In this section you will learn what to expect in the program, how to get started and how to set goals to better manage JIA.

JIA stands for juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Find out what causes JIA, the different types of JIA and how it will affect you now and in the future.

Diagnosing JIA may be difficult as joint pain and swelling may be a part of many different illnesses. Diagnosis of JIA typically includes a physical exam, blood tests and imaging studies.

Pain, stiffness, and tiredness or fatigue, are common symptoms of JIA. These symptoms can lead to difficulties with participating in school and sports activities, and enjoying time with your friends. Learn about pain, fatigue, and stiffness, how to manage symptoms and how these symptoms can cause stress.

There are several strategies you can use to help you cope with pain, stress, and sleep problems. These include relaxation, distraction, and managing your thoughts. In this section, learn more about how each of these strategies work.

When you know about your medications, you can talk to your doctor about them and make good choices for yourself. Find out about the different types of JIA medications, how they work, common side effects, and the importance of talking to your doctor about your medication plan.

Did you know that there are many other therapies that you can use to manage JIA symptoms? They can help to prevent complications so that you can do all the things you want to do. In this section, learn more about physical, occupational, and psychological therapies; maintaining healthy nutrition; surgical options for JIA, and more.

Your role in making decisions about your treatment plan is very important. Your health-care team and other members of your support system are available to help you make these decisions. In turn, they can help you to manage your JIA.

Whether you have JIA or not, you need to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Find out how to stay healthy and active, learn about puberty and relationships, healthy body image, and making healthy lifestyle choices.

Sometime between the ages of 18 to 22, you most likely will transition from your pediatric rheumatologist to the adult health care setting. At that time, there are a number of things you, your family, and your health-care team can do to help make this change go smoothly.