Systemic onset Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis

Arthritis can be short-term, lasting just a few weeks or months and then disappearing - or it may be chronic and last for months, years or even a lifetime. It is a swelling of the joints that is characterized by heat and pain. Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is the most common form of arthritis affecting children. Pauciarticular disease is characterized by arthritis affecting 4 or fewer joints. Localization to proximal muscles raises the possibility of a myositis. Some children may have a generalized myalgia. Frank joint swelling is atypical; arthritis may not occur for months following onset, making diagnosis difficult. Systemic-onset JRA may be accompanied by an evanescent rash, which is typically linear, affecting the trunk and extremities. Systemic-onset JRA is characterized by spiking fevers, typically occurring several times each day, with temperature returning to the reference range or below the reference range.