Helgi Olafsen is a spondyloarthritis warrior who is also a seasoned trail runner who competes at the highest levels of …
Juvenile Spondyloarthritis (JSpA), also known as Juvenile Spondyloarthropathy, is the medical term for a group of childhood rheumatic diseases, which cause arthritis before the age of 16 and may span through adult life. The juvenile spondyloarthropathies include enthesitis-related arthritis, undifferentiated spondyloarthritis, juvenile ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, reactive arthritis and arthritis associated with inflammatory bowel disease (also called enteropathic arthritis).
JSpA typically causes pain and inflammation in the joints in the lower part of the body, for example, the pelvis, hips, knees and ankles. Other areas of the body can also be affected, such as the spine, eyes, skin, and bowels. Fatigue and lethargy can also occur.
Getting diagnosed with juvenile spondyloarthritis can be a difficult time for both patient and parent. Our SpondyKids.org site offers the latest medical information, as well as practical resources to help make sure kids have everything they need, including any needed accommodations, to thrive in school. You will also find tips from other parents, and stories from youth living with juvenile spondyloarthritis.