Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis and Uveitis

Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis and Uveitis: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) is a customary rheumatic disorder in children. JIA-related uveitis (JIA-U) is the most common extra-articular demonstration.

Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA)

JIA is determined as arthritis of at least six weeks (one and a half months) of duration without any noticeable or detectable cause in children under the age of 16 years. It is an inflammatory disease of the joints that attacks the children.

Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis is an autoimmune disorder in which the body’s healthy joints are affected by white blood cells resulting in the inflammation of the joints. It can affect the walking ability of the patient. Its common symptoms include rashes and fever.

How Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Is Associated With Uveitis?

Some children diagnosed with JIA also develop eye inflammation known as uveitis. Uveitis is the medical condition when the uvea gets inflamed. There are so many types of uveitis but JIA mostly attacks the front of the uvea.

JIA-related uveitis is probably a sight-threatening situation, hence carries a substantial risk of morbidity. The etiology of this very condition is potentially autoimmune in nature with the overriding collaboration of CD4+ T cells.

Nevertheless, the fundamental pathogenic mechanisms remain ambiguous, especially regarding interchange between environmental and genetic factors. JIA-linked uveitis is such a condition that is mostly asymptomatic leaving the patient at risk.

Therefore, advanced detection and treatment should be done to prevent inflammation and avert the development of obstacles that would lead to visual loss, which can evolve either due to active disease or the burden of treatment.

Sight-threatening complications of JIA-associated uveitis incorporates glaucoma, macular oedema, cataracts, and band keratopathy.

Symptoms Of JIA-associated Uveitis

Blurry vision

Pain

Redness

Light sensitivity

Dark floating spots in the vision

It has been observed that up to half of the patients do not develop obvious symptoms in their initial stages. In this condition, when children develop symptoms, it usually means that visual loss or damage may have already happened. JIA is a chronic disorder and is not curable but can be treated. This is the very reason that you should see an experienced ophthalmologist before its too late.

Dr. Sohaib Abbas Malik has been dealing with such cases for years and provides the best consultation that has helped hundreds of children to prevent their precious eyes and vision. According to him, if you’ve been diagnosed with JIA, then your first priority should be visiting an ophthalmologist.

Causes Of JIA-Uveitis

Uveitis can turn out spontaneously, or it can be originated by infections or autoimmune disorders such as JIA. However, the reason can not be stated very well as the pathophysiology of JIA-U incorporates both genetic and environmental factors.

How A Uveitis Originated From JIA Can Be Diagnosed?

To examine uveitis, a child may go through the following tests:

Blood Tests

The ophthalmologist may prescribe a blood test to examine ANA (antinuclear antibody). If the test comes positive then there might be a greater risk of having uveitis. (Other blood tests can be taken as well).

Slit-lamp Test

The ophthalmologists often use an instrument known as slit-lamp to examine the child’s eye. It gives the doctor a detailed and magnified view of the eye allowing him to evaluate whether there is any damage to the eye because of the uveitis or not.

Can You Prevent Your Child’s Vision?

Yes, you can. The only way that can save your child’s vision is the regular check-up. If your child is suffering from any dermatological, infectious, and arthritis disorder then it is compulsory for him to be examined by an ophthalmologist as these ailments can have adverse effects on the eyes.

Treatment

Well, uveitis is often treated by applying a team approach as it is often associated with other disorders. Although this disease is complicated to be treated and you should always prefer an expert ophthalmologist with a significant background.

If your child is suffering from such disease, you should visit Dr. Sohaib Abbas Malik without any delay as he is the leading ophthalmologist and consultant that can help your child to get a better and clear vision.