JAFA Early Diagnosis Program: supporting health professionals to recognise and assess juvenile arthritis
Juvenile Arthritis Foundation Australia’s (JAFA) Early Diagnosis Program informs and supports primary healthcare professionals with the knowledge and tools to recognise JIA symptoms early, leading to faster referrals and better outcomes for children. With delays in diagnosis often causing unnecessary pain and long-term joint and eye damage, early intervention is crucial.
Early diagnosis helps reduce lifelong pain and disability from JIA. Effective treatment is available, and access to appropriate care significantly improves outcomes.
Key information about juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)
The average time from symptom onset to diagnosis of juvenile arthritis is 10 months, with lifelong consequences such as lifelong disability, pain, lost schooling, social isolation, mental health challenges, and dependence.
Juvenile arthritis, or juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), is chronic joint inflammation of unknown cause in children under 16 years. JIA is a common, painful, and potentially debilitating autoimmune disease affecting joints and sometimes the eyes, skin, muscles, and internal organs. If undiagnosed and untreated, it can lead to chronic pain, permanent joint damage, or vision loss.
JIA affects 1 to 4 in every 1,000 Australian children under 16 [1] and up to 30,000 young Australians under 24, making it as common as diabetes in this age group [2]. Despite its prevalence, the average time to diagnosis remains 10 months, unchanged in 25 years [3, 4]. This delay closes the window for early remission, contributing to lifelong consequences.
Families face over $4,000 annually in out-of-pocket costs, with government healthcare costs exceeding $24,000 per person annually which is higher than comparable chronic childhood diseases [4].
Juvenile arthritis resources for clinicians
Treatment aims to drive inflammation into remission before damage occurs. Healthcare professionals can help by recognising the signs and symptoms of JIA and ensuring prompt referral to a paediatric rheumatologist.
Access the clinician resources.
Learn more about JIA at jafa.org.au/hcphub.
Article sources:
Sinnappurajar P, Chaitow J. Juvenile idiopathic arthritis - a new outlook. Medicine Today 2023; 24(10): 12-19.
AIHW 2023: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/chronic-musculoskeletal-conditions/juvenile-arthritis
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