Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis

Musculoskeletal problems account for the majority of initial complaints attended to by primary care physicians. It is likely that a child who eventually has juvenile rheumatoid arthritis diagnosed will initially be evaluated by a family physician or a pediatrician. Primary care physicians will play an increasingly important role in management of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, as the availability of specialists in many communities is limited, and access to them may be further limited by managed care initiatives. This article offers a brief review of the definition and classification of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and introduces a diagnostic algorithm to provide a simplified approach toward evaluating children with arthritis. Treatment and outcomes are summarized in text and graphic formats.