Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is a group of diseases that involves chronic joint inflammation.  This inflammation causes multiple problems, including stiffness, pain and swelling of the joints.  It can also progress to affect organs in the body.

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis medicine includes a broad range of medications that fight pain and swelling.

  • Non-steroidal drugs, including ibuprofen, are the first juvenile rheumatoid arthritis medicine in your doctor’s arsenal. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) block the enzyme cyclo-oxygenase. This enzyme is what causes pain and inflammation (swelling) in the joints.
  • Analgesics target only the pain, and not the inflammation, of the arthritis. Acetaminophen is inexpensive and widely available. More severe pain may require the use of an opioid, such as codeine or hydrocodone.
  • Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) like methotrexate are often given along with NSAIDs in combination as the initial juvenile rheumatoid arthritis medicine choice to reduce the risk of injury to bones and/or cartilage.
  • Corticosteroids, such as prednisone, are powerful anti-inflammatory drugs that regulate the body’s fluid balance and the way it uses fat and sugar. Although produced in the adrenal glands, corticosteroids can be produced synthetically. They are administered either orally or by injection into a swollen joint to assist with pain relief.
  • Biologic response modifiers (BRMs), such as anti-TNF drugs, are a class of drugs that inhibit proteins called cytokines. Biologics are made from living agents, such as protein, a virus, or a gene. They must be injected under the skin or given as an infusion in the vein, and are often accompanied by methotrexate for maximum effectiveness.
  • COX-2 inhibitors have been used as the latest juvenile rheumatoid arthritis medicine breakthrough, because they cause less digestive complications than other NSAIDs. Currently, Celecoxib (Celebrex) is the only one available.

While medication does assist a child with the disease, other forms of treatment are also necessary.  Physical therapy is a must to help a child improve muscle and joint movement.  Parents should ensure that their children are eating a healthy diet and getting lots of exercise.  Counseling may be necessary to help children adjust to the stress involved with living with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.