Clinical p r a c t i c E Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: A Chronic Pediatric Musculoskeletal Condition with Significant Orofacial

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), a broad term that describes a clinically heterogeneous group of arthritides of unknown cause, begins before 16 years of age. The hallmark feature of JIA is chronic inflammation of the joints, but the term encompasses several disease categories. The cause of JIA is still poorly understood and none of the avail-able drugs for JIA can cure the disease. However, the prognosis has greatly improved as a result of progress in disease classification and management. The dental practitioner should be familiar with the symptoms and oral manifestations of JIA to help manage this disease. For citation purposes, the electronic version is the definitive version of this article: www.cda-adc.ca/jcda/vol-74/issue-9/813.html Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common chronic rheumatic dis-ease of childhood and an important cause of short- and long-term disability.1 Patients with JIA experience a myriad of symptoms, including lethargy, reduced physical ac-tivity, poor appetite and flu-like symptoms