Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA): a guide for teenagers

What is JIA?

• Juvenile means that the arthritis began before you were 16 years old.
• Idiopathic means that the cause is unknown.
• Arthritis means that one or more of your joints are inflamed.

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What causes JIA?

We think that JIA is due to:

• a combination of genetic factors
• trigger factors from the environment e.g. an infection that hasn’t yet been identified

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How is JIA diagnosed?

To make a diagnosis your doctor will ask questions and examine you, and this will help to rule out other types of illness that can cause joint pain. You may also need a number of tests.

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What treatments are there for JIA?

The aim of your treatment is to:

• control the symptoms of arthritis
• enable you to lead an active life at school or college
• enable you to enjoy an active family and social life
• help you become an independent adult

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