Las Vegas Urban League WIC Offers Guidance During July's Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month

LAS VEGAS - July 11, 2022 - PRLog -- The Arthritis Foundation estimates that some 300,000 children suffer from juvenile arthritis in the United States. This debilitating autoimmune disorder causes swelling in children's joints that can lead to inflammation within the body and internal organs.

Each year July is designated as Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month, so parents can recognize the signs of juvenile arthritis and seek the proper early treatment for their child.

"It is important to listen to your child when they tell you they are in pain," Lawanda Torres, Clinic Coordinator at the Flamingo West Las Vegas Urban League WIC office said. "You should then follow up with your pediatrician or a rheumatologist immediately to have your child examined."

Physical signs to look for include red or swollen joints that feel stiff, painful, tender or warm. These symptoms may be worse in the morning, or after your child has sat in one position for a long time. You may also notice that your child is having difficulty walking, or walking with a limp. Skin symptoms may include a red rash, light spotted pink rash, lupus rash or scleroderma rash. The swelling of internal organs may cause diarrhea and bloating or shortness of breath.

"Arthritis experts strongly believe in exercise and healthy eating habits as ways to greatly assist in the treatment of juvenile arthritis," Shannon Johnson, Clinic Coordinator at the Flamingo East Las Vegas Urban League WIC office said. "It is also important to have your child interact with other children who have Juvenile Arthritis because this social support decreases feelings of isolation and loneliness."

The Arthritis Foundation frequently hosts support groups and camps for children. It's important to check with your child's school to see if these programs are available. Also, upon diagnosis of Juvenile Arthritis, your child becomes eligible for school-based accommodations. Talk to your child's school on how to arrange for these accommodations.

The Las Vegas Urban League Women, Infants and Children Program is a 501c (3) program that is funded by the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services Division of Public Health.

For more information on how to identify and treat your child suffering from Juvenile Arthritis, visit Urban League WIC's two convenient locations: 6480 W. Flamingo Road, Suite B, Las Vegas, phone (702) 227-1573 or 3320 E. Flamingo Road, Suite 50, Las Vegas, phone (702) 476-9561. For more information, visit http://www.wiclv.org