Medical Conditions

How is it Caused?

Scientists don’t know the exact causes of JRA yet, but research is being done. They do know that JRA is an autoimmune disorder, which means that the body mistakenly identifies some of its own cells and tissues as foreign. This confusion causes the immune system to mount an attack and release chemicals that actually damage the body's own healthy tissues. This results in the type of inflammation that causes the symptoms, including redness, heat, pain, and swelling.

Scientists suspect that it is a two-step process. First, something in a child’s genetic makeup gives them a tendency to develop JRA; then an environmental factor, such as a virus, triggers the development of JRA.