There are 3 or 4 types of medications that are given in juvenile arthritis:

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS): These are normally given to reduce the pain, swelling and inflammation in children with arthritis. These act within a few hours. Although in very mild arthritis NSAIDS alone may be enough to control the disease, more often than not other medications (to be discussed) are required. It should be noted that there is no specific NSAID that is better than the others as regards efficacy. Often the NSAID, which, helps the child and at the same time does not cause side effects should be used. Gastrointestinal side effects are the commonest cause why these drugs are either changed or stopped.

Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs (DMARDS): These are slow acting drugs which can control the disease in the long run. These do not control the pain immediately. The commonly used DMARDS are chloroquine, methotrexate, salazopyrine, etc. The specialist will explain the beneficial effects and the side-effects of these medications and then start it. Regular monitoring of tests is a must on this drugs.

Apart from the above-mentioned 3 DMARDS, there are others which are more often than not used when the above 3 fail or there are contraindications to them. These have not been discussed in detail here.

Steroids: Corticosteroids are much-maligned drugs. Although like any other drug they have side effects, when used in an appropriate manner, they are extremely beneficial, especially in patients with severe polyarticular arthritis and systemic onset arthritis.

Calcium & Vitamin D: These supplements are given routinely in children with arthritis to prevent weakness of bones and to help the child achieve optimal bone strength in the future.

Iron supplements: Children with arthritis often have concomitant iron deficiency and anemia. Iron supplements on routine basis take care of this deficiency.