Juvenile Arthritis Research

Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) is an autoimmune disorder, where the natural defences in the body go wrong and instead of fighting infections they attack the joints. This is known as inflammation, and causes pain, discomfort and reduced mobility. Without effective treatment, the joint is damaged leading to permanent disability. JIA can cause inflammation in the eyes, known as uveitis. If this is not brought under control, it can lead to blindness.

JIA is arthritis (inflammation in the joints) of children and young people under the age of 16. Around 1 in 1000 children are diagnosed with JIA.

Juvenile Arthritis Research are searching for a cure for JIA, and raising awareness that children get arthritis. They recently launched A Little Box Of Hope, which is an information pack for children when they are first diagnosed with arthritis providing support on the first step on their journey.