It saddens me that kids with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) have a tough time growing up.
Unlike other kids, they live with chronic pain and stiffness, swelling, fatigue, and a lot of frustration and disappointment. Because with moderate to severe JIA, they can’t engage in activities like football, hide and seek, cake-baking, or pony-riding.
BUT there is some VERY interesting news that might shed more light on this chronic disease!
It seems that people frequently refer to JIA as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Most people, I guess, associate RA with elderly people. When a child is diagnosed with JIA, they might be shocked to learn that it can strike even children, robbing them of a happy childhood that they so deserve.
A blog I read, called The Methods Man, brings to light an interesting study that dares to link the onset and growth of JIA with exposure to antibiotics. I find this fascinating because we continue to hear in the media how antibiotics are being over-prescribed—even for the common cold in adults.
The Methods Man begs the question: Is it actually antibiotics causing JIA/RA or something else?
But ultimately, he thinks the study has creds and feels it’s highly likely that additional studies will continue to study the link between JIA/RA and antibiotics. With a little smidge of humor, he states he’s glad he’s a nephrologist—I suppose because he wouldn’t want to be involved in taking poop cultures. I guess he’s just telling it like it is.
What’s important is he’s continuing the discussion to spread awareness. Hopefully, a biotech company will catch wind and get additional studies started. Who knew that poop would actually be the scoop?
