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Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) is the most common form of arthritis in children.

Medical Resources

photoA sample of information on local and national resources for childhood chronic conditions and/or special health care needs can be found in the table below.

The resources are available to anyone, regardless of enrollment in the Caring Program: Care Coordination for Children with Special Health Care Needs or CHIP. The links provided on this site are for information only.

This list of resources is not meant to be exhaustive or contain a complete listing of all child-related chronic conditions and/or special health care needs. The listing will be updated on an ongoing basis and is in compliance with the Linking Policies of the organizations listed.

The links are provided for your information only. The views of the linked organizations do not necessarily reflect the views of Highmark Blue Shield.

 
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Arthritis
Arthritis is one of the most prevalent chronic health conditions and one of the leading causes of disability among Americans over age 15. Arthritis can also be found in children much younger than 15. Arthritis can cause joint pain, loss of movement and swelling. Early identification and treatment in childhood may be key to helping keep those children more mobile and pain free.

Asthma
Asthma is one of the most common chronic conditions of childhood. Environmental and/or food triggers called allergens can cause the airways to constrict (or narrow), making it difficult for the child to breath normally. Parents need to know the triggers of their child's asthma to help avoid serious asthmatic episodes.

Autism
Autism is one of a group of developmental disorders known as spectrum disorders. The symptoms of children with autism can range from having difficulty in social situations or in large noisy crowds to being totally non verbal and/or being unable to participate in typical childhood activities. The number of children diagnosed with autism has risen significantly in recent years. Males are four times more likely to have autism than females.

Cancer
In 2002, the US National Cancer Institute reported that in the US, more than 216,000 children aged 1-19 were living with a diagnosis of cancer. The good news is that more than 65% of children and teenagers are cured of cancer. The statistics are even better than that for some forms of cancer. Early identification and treatment are the best tools to combat this group of diseases.

Cardiac Condition
The term "cardiac condition" is a broad term that includes many types of childhood heart and/or vascular conditions. Typically, childhood heart conditions are classified as either "congenital" (meaning present at birth) or "acquired" (meaning developed during childhood). Almost 36,000 children are diagnosed with a heart defect each year. Education and early diagnosis are important with any type of cardiac condition.

Celiac Disease
Celiac disease is a chronic autoimmune intestinal disorder that is often times diagnosed in childhood. Individuals with Celiac disease typically need to be on gluten-free diets to relieve the discomfort of the intestinal symptoms caused by the disease. To learn more about this condition, contact one of these Web sites.

Crohn's/Colitis
Crohn's disease, colitis and inflammatory bowel disease are all chronic but usually intermittent inflammatory conditions of the intestines (bowel). These chronic conditions can cause a variety of symptoms including swelling, redness and ulcers in the intestines. Knowing more about these chronic conditions as well as the ways to avoid new episodes are important tools in treating the condition.

Cystic Fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis is considered to be a genetic chronic condition that causes a child to produce abnormal mucus, tears, sweat, and saliva. Secretions can block the child's airway and cause potentially dangerous conditions. Cystic Fibrosis can be found in both males and females as well as in all races and ethnic groups. The degree to which the disease affects children can vary significantly.


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Diabetes
More than 13,000 children in the United States are diagnosed with diabetes each year. Families with a history of Type 1 diabetes should be alert for the symptoms of diabetes, such as excessive thirst and/or frequent urination. Children with a family history of diabetes should be checked annually by their doctors. Many supports services are available to help children with diabetes, as well as their families.

Down Syndrome
Down syndrome is one of the most commonly found abnormalities of human chromosomes. Down syndrome is typically diagnosed shortly after the baby's birth. The exact cause of this genetic syndrome is still unknown. A variety of supports are available to children with Down syndrome and their families.

Epilepsy

1 out of 118 people in the United States have epilepsy. Seizures are caused when the brain produces bursts of abnormal electrical current. Some seizures are considered mild and may only cause periods of staring. Other types of seizures may be more serious and cause muscle spasm and a loss of consciousness.

Epilepsy is not a mental illness or a sign of low intelligence. Between seizures, a person with epilepsy is no different from anyone else.

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Hearing Impairment
Some hearing problems are not obvious until a child is 12 to 18 months of age. Signs of hearing loss in a very young child may not be easy to notice. Children who can't hear well often respond to their environment by using their senses of sight and touch, which can hide their hearing problems. Children with both hearing and balance problems may have mild delays in the development of their motor skills.

Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
JRA—Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis—is the most common form of arthritis in children. Many children with this condition are able to function in a fairly typical fashion. Almost half of the children with this condition have a mild enough form of arthritis that they tend to have relatively few problems. However, some children with JRA are severely impacted and tend to have a variety of life-long problems. A number of therapies are available for these children that can lead to helping to provide positive long-term benefits.

Lupus
Lupus is an autoimmune disease that can affect various parts of the body, including the skin, joints, heart, lungs, blood, kidneys, and brain. This condition is more typically found in adults, but children can be affected by this chronic condition as well. To learn more about this condition and the treatment options, use the attached link to the Lupus Foundation of America.

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Muscular Dystrophy
Muscular dystrophy (or MD) is among a group of inherited or genetic diseases that can cause a child's muscles to weaken and/or degenerate. A key protein is missing in the muscle that is needed to make the muscles work properly. Muscular dystrophy can cause such significant muscle weakness that it can make walking for the child difficult to impossible. Genetic studies are ongoing to try to identify the genetic cause of MD and eventually to help find a cure.

Polycystic Kidney Disease
Polycystic kidney disease is another in the list of inherited diseases that affects the kidneys. Polycystic kidney disease is one of the most common inherited diseases in the United States. With coordinated medical care, most children with polycystic kidney disease have few problems and can participate in all the typical activities of childhood.

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Spina Bifida
Spina bifida is a term that describes a fairly well known birth defect that is caused by the spinal column not completely closing prior to birth. The "gap" between the bones of the back (spine) allows parts of the membranes of the spine or sometimes the spinal cord itself to bulge out of the child's back.

Visual Impairments
Visual impairment and blindness affect 25 per 1,000 children in the United States, but medical treatments like corrective lenses and surgery can improve the vision for many children with these disorders. But many children with visual impairment may go undiagnosed because they don't undergo regular vision testing, say researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia.