How long will the needs last?

Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Duration Guidance

This guidance covers -:

• Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (also known as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile chronic arthritis & Still’s disease)

The increase in effective drugs and the change towards earlier, aggressive therapy has changed outcomes. With proper therapy, the majority of children will improve over time. There is a minority of children however that go on to have problems with active disease through to adulthood.

Most children will have little or no disability and may experience temporary difficulties in activity during a flare up but after appropriate treatment return to full function.

A few children experience moderate disability and fewer still have severe problems.

JIA has a very variable course of disease and it is certainly difficult to predict long term outcome accurately. There are some factors, however associated with poorer long-term outcomes and some of these are:

• Extending pauciarticular JIA
• Systemic JIA
• Prolonged active disease (more than 4 years)

Duration of functional restrictions for those with significant disability will depend on the length of time the child has had JIA.

All information must be taken into account when considering the duration of care and mobility needs. The duration of care and mobility needs must be based on the particular circumstances of the child.