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Pfizer Singapore Hosts Inaugural Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) Day 2011

Aims to help parents better understand and manage the condition for their children affected by JIA

SINGAPORE, September 5 – Over 30 young children who are living with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), together with their parents, attended JIA Day 2011, held last Saturday. Hosted by Pfizer, in collaboration with KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, National University Hospital and National Arthritis Foundation, JIA Day aims to raise awareness of JIA and help parents better understand the medical condition to provide the right support for their children affected by JIA.

JIA is the most common type of arthritis in children and may be temporary or chronic. Symptoms include swelling of affected joints, such as knees and ankles, as well as lethargy, poor appetite and high fever, in some.

“At KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH), we have seen more than 150 cases of JIA over the past two years. General awareness and understanding about JIA are relatively low in Singapore, and often it is not detected early enough as parents do not realise that something is amiss with their child," said Associate Professor Thaschawee Arkachaisri, Senior Consultant and Head, Rheumatology and Immunology Service, KKH.

The symptoms and manifestations of JIA can make it painful for a child to cope with simple activities of daily living. However, early diagnosis and treatment can easily help manage this condition with excellent outcomes. So it is important for parents and physicians to be informed and aware about the early signs and symptoms of Arthritis,” he added.

Chan Zhi Hng, a 3-year-old preschooler, was diagnosed with juvenile arthritis when he was one year old. The initial symptoms included swelling of the joint of the fifth finger which progressed to involve all the joints on the left hand, a condition known as Polyarthritis involving five or more joints simultaneously. Zhi Hng also struggled to walk normally, experienced morning stiffness and battled with pain daily. Mr Chan, father of Zhi Hng, shares his experience.

“We consulted six doctors over a period of three months before Zhi Hng was diagnosed with juvenile arthritis. It was hard to accept the diagnosis as we thought arthritis only affects the elderly. We felt helpless to see him struggle and live in pain daily but with ongoing treatment, he is now pain-free and is physically active,” says Mr Chan.

“I urge parents not to dismiss any minor swelling or complaints of pain from your child. Seek accurate diagnosis such that treatment can start early.”

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About Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a form of arthritis caused by abnormalities in the immune system. The malfunctioning of the immune system leads the body to be unable to differentiate between healthy body tissue and bacteria and viruses, and thus produces antibodies that destroy normal tissue.

JIA is the most common type of persistent arthritis in children and may be temporary or chronic. Symptoms include persistent swelling of affected joints, such as knees and ankles, as well as lethargy, poor appetite and high fever.

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