ARTRITIS REUMATOIDE JUVENIL: UNA SOSPECHA DIAGNÓSTICA POCO CONSIDERADA

Abstract

Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis defined as a chronic, degenerative pathology of unknown etiology, in which the autoimmune nature is present and unlike adults whose arthritis will affect them throughout their lives, children can overcome this suffering, without leaving aside the multiple consequences or complications. Worldwide, it has a prevalence of 3.8- 400/100,000 children, making it the most common chronic rheumatological disease in this population. Its incidence worldwide is approximately 1.6-23/100,000 children under 16 years of age/year. The methodology used was descriptive, data and information were collected from scientific articles in English and Spanish published from 2019 to 2023 in different databases. A review of the literature was obtained detailing data on the prevalence, incidence, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Clinically there is a predominance of inflammation at the joint level, pain and morning stiffness, accompanied by erythema and heat to the touch in said joint, on certain occasions there are marked skin eruptions, generalized lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly and serositis for which several classifications have been established. Diagnosis is based on history and physical examination; laboratory findings are useful to identify the subtype and possible treatment options. Historically, treatment emphasized the use of non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), while today methotrexate is the drug of choice in several subtypes of JIA, this being not the only one.