Early referrals can be life changing: juvenile arthritis

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Content last updated 10/03/2026

Early referrals can be life changing: juvenile arthritis

Summary

It’s Juvenile Arthritis Week (JAW) from 16-22 March. Find out more about this condition, the importance of early referrals and where to get more information.

Juvenile Arthritis Week is a time to recognise the courage and resilience of Australian children, young people and families who deal with the challenges of juvenile idiopathic arthritis and other childhood rheumatic diseases as part of their lives.

What is juvenile arthritis?

Juvenile arthritis, correctly termed juvenile idiopathic arthritis and shortened to JIA, is a painful autoimmune disease affecting the joints and sometimes the eyes, skin, muscles and internal organs. If not detected and treated early, it can result in chronic pain and permanent disability from joint damage and/or loss of vision.

JIA is not rare. Up to 10,000 children under 16 and an estimated 18,000-30,000 young people aged 0-24 years have JIA, making it one of the most common chronic childhood diseases in affecting young Australians.

Recognising symptoms matters

Kids with arthritis can’t wait. They should be heard, seen and diagnosed early. Anything less risks lifelong pain and disability.

The average time from symptom onset to diagnosis is 10 months and for some kids it can take years. Late diagnosis closes the window of opportunity for early remission and contributes to lifelong disability.

Early referrals

GPs may be able to change a child’s life by recognising the symptoms of JIA and referring children with prolonged stiff, swollen, sore joints to a paediatric rheumatologist.

Where can you find out more?

For more information about juvenile arthritis, practitioners can head to the Early Diagnosis online Healthcare Professional hub: https://jafa.org.au/hcphub/.

Community members can find out wider facts about this condition, as well as types and treatment pathways, by visiting the Juvenile Arthritis Foundation Australia website.

This story has been adapted from content supplied by Juvenile Arthritis Foundation Australia.

References

  1. Sinnappurajar P, Chaitow J. Juvenile idiopathic arthritis – a new outlook. Medicine Today 2023; 24(10): 12-19.
  2. AIHW 2023: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/chronic-musculoskeletal-conditions/juvenile-arthritis
  3. Manners P. Diagnostic Dilemma: delays in diagnosing juvenile arthritis. MJA 1999; 171: 367-369.
  4. The IMPACT Study: Bond DM, Von Huben A, Lain S, Colagiuri R, Colagiuri S, Nassar N. Juvenile Arthritis Foundation Australia, Sydney, 2023: http://www.jafa.org.au/impactstudyreport