JRA Facts

• Approximately 294,000 children under the age of 18 are affected by pediatric arthritis and rheumatologic conditions.

• Ambulatory care visits for pediatric arthritis and rheumatologic conditions averaged 827,000 annually.

• Juvenile arthritis is one of the most common childhood diseases in the United States.

• Arthritis and related conditions, such as juvenile arthritis, cost the U.S. economy nearly $128 billion per year in medical care and indirect expenses, including lost wages and productivity.

• It causes the immune system to attack its own cells. This leads to inflammation in joints and other parts of the body.

• It strikes for unknown reasons. Scientists are not sure what causes JRA. It probably involves both genetics and  "environmental triggers" such as viruses and bacteria.

• It is outgrown by most children, especially if they are diagnosed early and get expert medical care. Today, even kids with severe JRA can often control the disease and live full lives.

• JRA can be easily misdiagnosed and mistaken for injury or infection. Untreated JRA can permanently damage .