Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA), also called Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA), is an autoimmune disease that attacks the joints of children under the age of 16. Picture a child who should be running around, free of care, suddenly stiff, in pain, and struggling to move. That’s what JRA does—it causes persistent joint inflammation, swelling, and pain. It’s hard to imagine arthritis in children, right? It seems like a condition meant for older adults, not kids. Yet, it’s a heartbreaking reality for around 300,000 children in the United States .

The autoimmune nature of JRA means the body’s immune system goes haywire and mistakenly attacks its own healthy tissues. This isn’t just your average joint pain that fades with a good night’s rest. JRA is relentless and can affect not only joints but also the eyes, skin, and other organs if left unchecked. It impacts not just the body, but also a child’s mental outlook, self-esteem, and even their relationships with peers and family.