An estimated 4,600 Australian children under the age of 16 have
juvenile arthritis - a highly disabling and care demanding
condition, according to a new report released today by the
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).
The report, Juvenile arthritis in Australia, brings
together the latest data on the disease to highlight the impact of
arthritis in children.
Report author Dr Naila Rahman said 'juvenile arthritis is not
just a 'mini' version of adult arthritis and is considerably
different from the adult form of the disease.'
Because of its early onset, juvenile arthritis affects the
growth and development of the child, which means there is usually a
greater and long-term need for health care services.
'The process of the disease itself and the medication regime
required to control it can also alter children's physical
appearance - in particular underdeveloped jaw bones, shorted
fingers, forearms, toes or feet,' Dr Rahman said.
Dr Kuldeep Bhatia, Head of the AIHW's National Centre for
Monitoring Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Conditions, said an
estimated 1,600 Australian children are disabled as a result of
their arthritis - primarily because of chronic or recurrent pain
and severe activity limitation.
'Almost 70% of them experience restricted physical activity or
inability to do physical work,' he said.
In addition, children with arthritis are more likely to have
days away from school (33%) and days of reduced activity (16%)
compared to other children (18% and 11%, respectively).
'Many children with juvenile arthritis go into remission.
However, between 10 to 20% enter adulthood with active disease. In
some cases the disease recurs in adulthood,' she said.
According to the report, almost 22,000 Australian adults were
diagnosed with arthritis in childhood, and the physical impairments
experienced by these adults are more pronounced than in those who
were diagnosed as adults.
The report was prepared by the AIHW's National Centre for
Monitoring Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Conditions with funding
from the Department of Health and Ageing through the Better
Arthritis and Osteoporosis Care initiative.
Thursday 23 October 2008
Further information: Dr Naila Rahman, AIHW,
tel. 02 6244 1057, mob. 0403 336 293
For media copies of the report: Publications
Officer, AIHW, tel. 61 2 6244 1032.
Availability: Check the AIHW Publications
Catalogue for the availability of Juvenile arthritis in
Australia.