Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month Raises Awareness & Promotes Treatment

Some diseases and conditions are identified by who they affect. For instance, most people believe, incorrectly, that arthritis is solely the concern of those who are growing older. Sadly, that’s not the case.

July brings the return of Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month. Juvenile Arthritis is a particularly troublesome condition, and unfortunately one that is all too common in children and teens. Nearly 300,000 children in this country have been diagnosed with the disease.

Arthritis is always a hardship, a painful condition that can be extremely debilitating to its sufferers. It is an especially sad case for children, who are in the stage of life when they should be most physically active and carefree. Juvenile arthritis robs many of the chance to fully enjoy the childhood years of play and fun.

Juvenile Arthritis is oftentimes more serious than adult arthritic conditions. It is often the result of disorders of the autoimmune system that directly attacks the joints. Some forms of Juvenile Arthritis can lead to paralysis, blindness, or even death.

We at Scrubin have joined the fight against Juvenile Arthritis and want to spread the message about both the condition and how to combat it. July will be a time of public education, fundraising, as well as outreach to the little troopers currently struggling.

The Arthritis National Research Foundation is issuing blue Cure Arthritis bracelets and other wearables to commemorate the month. They are also distributing Cure Arthritis action packs with bracelets, posters and more.
Furthermore, you can help spread the word by tweeting out news about Juvenile Arthritis, and spreading the word through your other social media channels.
Let’s don’t forget that while public outreach is valuable and worthwhile, there is no substitute for a cure. And a cure requires research, which requires funding. Click here to discover portals to make a donation or become involved in fundraising.

There are numerous ways to support the cause, from pledge drives to volunteering at hospitals and clinics, so find where you can best be of service. Post on social media, check in your community about ways to get contribute at the local level. Wear your blue bracelet and get your friends and family to do the same.

This is a horrible condition, one that afflicts far too many, but together we can all of us turn the tide and make Juvenile Arthritis a thing of the past!

Help and hope highlight Juvenile Arthritis Month

All too many diseases, syndromes, disorders and other illnesses afflict people every day. These can range from debilitating to life threatening, and our concern is always heightened when the word “juvenile” is placed in front. Our hearts go out most to the youngest and most vulnerable among us whenever they suffer. And on the treatment side, juvenile ailments often prove the most difficult to manage due to challenges ranging from proper diagnosis to proper, effective methods of treatment.

Such is the case with Juvenile Arthritis, which affects 300,000 American children under the age of 18, according to the Arthritis Foundation. A particular challenge with diagnosing Juvenile Arthritis is that it is not a disease in and of itself. Instead, the term applies to a host of more than half a dozen conditions and sets of symptoms, each with its own causes and triggers. These include Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, Juvenile Lupus and Fibromyalgia. Each is a complicated condition, and diagnosis and treatment can be time consuming and costly.

One of the biggest challenges is that the actual cause of arthritis in kids remains elusive. Many forms of juvenile arthritis are thought to stem from genetic factors that result in autoimmune or inflammatory conditions, but this is just the general trend in current thinking. What they all have in common though is they are painful, uncomfortable and, in many cases, crippling. The juxtaposition of these symptoms with the ages of its victims — kids who should be in the prime of health — is, needless to say, heartbreaking.

There is at this time no cure for Juvenile Arthritis. Treatment options, depending on the specific diagnosis, run the gamut from medications to physical therapy to dietary programs. More community awareness means more of us working to raise money for research. It also means that more of us are connecting with these kids, and their families, so they know they are not alone in this fight.
The good news is there are many ways to get involved, from donating to volunteering. Please learn about all the good you can do at Kids Get Arthritis Too, the Arthritis Foundation’s online home for Juvenile Arthritis awareness and support.