Growth retardation and delayed puberty in children and adolescents with juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common joint disorder in developing children. Juvenile idiopathic arthritis is difficult to diagnose and treat. In some patients, signs and symptoms can be frustratingly inconsistent, contradictory or idiosyncratic. Short stature in patients with JIA is usually due to reduced growth in the lower extremities, and only rarely due to reduced growth in the spinal column. In some studies, children with JIA were found to have infantile body proportions. Puberty is delayed in children with JIA. In children with chronic arthritic disorders, there is a strong correlation between the activity of the disease and the age of puberty. The main goals in reducing growth retardation in children with JIA are promoting timely remission and reducing the duration and dosage of corticosteroid treatment. It is important to regularly monitor physical development. Further improvements to the treatment protocol depend on continued interdisciplinary research involving paediatricians, rheumatologists and clinical anthropologists.