Rheumatoid arthritis name originated from the Greeks. The Greek name for Rheumatoid is actually Rheumatos which means flowing. The suffix –oid stands for resembling. At first rheumatos was associated with rheumatic fever, an illness described as a throat infection that includes joint pain. Therefore, when you add the prefix and suffix you get the definition of a condition involving inflammation. Rheumatoid arthritis got its name because it resembles rheumatic fever. The first description of rheumatoid arthritis is seen in a painting nearly more than a century before Landre-Beauvais described it in detailed in 1800.

Most people associate rheumatoid arthritis to pain and physical limitations because millions of people suffering from this disease all face pain and physical limitations. People who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis usually end up with deformed joints, making the simplest activities undoable, because of the difficulty to manage the pain.

It is unexplainable why rheumatoid arthritis is two to three times more likely to occur in women than in men. A person is generally strike with this condition between the age of 20 and 50. However, rheumatoid is very uncommon in children but it is still probable to occur in children under the age of 16. It is also common for smokers to develop rheumatoid arthritis compared to non - smokers. Finally, family history plays an importance in a person risk to developing rheumatoid arthritis. Although the causes for rheumatoid arthritis are unknown it has been suspected for a long time that it is an infectious disease and might be due to food allergies or outside organisms.

Currently there is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis, but there are many treatments that can be used. With the right treatment, a person suffering from rheumatoid arthritis can live a very long and productive life.

Three major types of JRA includes, Poly-articular arthritis (affecting mostly girls. The major symptom include swelling or pain in 5 or more joints, a low grade fever may occur and bumps on the body can appear in areas where sitting or leaning is common.), Pauciarticular JRA (affects four or less joints. Some symptoms include pain, stiffness, or swelling in the joints. The most common joints affected are on the knees and wrists. It is very likely that a person will experience an inflammation of the iris with or without active joint symptoms.), and Systemic JRA (affecting the entire body, and includes high fevers, which usually increase during the evening and then may suddenly drop to normal thus, resulting in a pale complexion and rash. The rash is very distinctive because it may suddenly disappear and reappear mysteriously. In addition the body’s joint can ultimately be affected by swelling, pain, and stiffness).

The exact cause of JRA is currently unknown. However, research has showed that this is an autoimmune disease, meaning that the white blood cells lose the capacity to recognize the difference between the body’s own healthy cells and harmful cells. The immune system, as a result, releases chemicals that may harm healthy tissues and cause inflammation and pain opposed to defend the body from hurtful intruders.

In order for a child to maintain a healthy active and productive lifestyle while having JRA, it is important for the child to be diagnosed and treated promptly. This way, both the parent and the child can understand what the symptoms are and how to treat them.

When children suffer pain from JRA their first reaction is to sit or lay still, however the best medicine is to stay active. Being active helps good range of motion to keep the muscles strong and healthy in order to support and protect the joints. Before starting an exercise program, it’s important to consult a doctor and physical therapist about sports restrictions.

What separates rheumatoid arthritis from other joint disorders is that the pain is generally worse in the morning compared to later in the day. Therefore, the pain will decrease when the affected joint is used during the day. Some general indications to look out for is stiffness that lasts more than an hour, or swelling and pain that last up to or longer than six weeks becuase they can indicate rheumatoid arthritis. When rheumatoid arthritis is in its early stages symptoms may include fever, excessive fatigue, and even pea-sized lumps which can be felt under the skin known as nodules. Along with the symptoms described earlier, one can also expect to experience anemia, a decrease in appetite, and increment of fluid in the ankles or behind the knees.

Rheumatoid arthritis is also described as a multi-systemic disease because most patients also suffer anemia due to either the disease alone or of a side effect of a drug used in treating rheumatoid arthritis. In addition, children can also develop rheumatoid arthritis, their symptoms may include, trembling shivers and a pink rash which may be followed by painful and swollen joints.

The most probable cause for the pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis is the irritation of other tissues in and around the joints which are being affected. The irritation can be due to a chemical-messenger substance like prostaglandin E2.  Therefore it is important for people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis to take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to help reduce the pain. These types of drugs inhibit the production of prostaglandins making the pain to decrease.