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Living with Enthesitis-related juvenile idiopathic arthritis

A type of childhood arthritis with joint pain and swelling where tendons attach to bone.

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Understanding Enthesitis-related juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Enthesitis-related juvenile idiopathic arthritis is a type of childhood arthritis that also causes inflammation where tendons and ligaments attach to bone.

Symptoms usually begin in late childhood or early adolescence. They include pain, tenderness, and swelling in the joints and at those attachment points (entheses). The knee and the back of the ankle (Achilles tendon) are the most often affected.

Signs & symptoms

Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD lists these among the most common:

  • Joint pain (arthralgia)
  • Arthritis in a few joints (oligoarthritis)
  • Inflammation where tendons meet bone (enthesitis)
  • Back pain
  • Arthritis in the pelvis joints (sacroiliac arthritis)
  • Thickened Achilles tendon

Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.

Diagnosis

  1. Talk with your doctor

    Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.

  2. See a specialist

    Specialists who may be involved include autoimmune and inflammatory disease specialists, eye disease specialists and lung and breathing specialists.

  3. Ask which tests can help

    Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.

  4. Connect with expert centers

    Spondylitis Association of America may keep lists of experts for this condition.

Care & treatment

Care team
autoimmune and inflammatory disease specialists (rheumatologists); Eye disease specialists (ophthalmologists); Lung and breathing specialists (pulmonologists)
Expert care
Expert lists: Spondylitis Association of America
Treatment
GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
Research
Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.

General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.

Everyday life

Living with a rare condition is easier with support.

  • Connect with Spondylitis Association of America and other patient organizations
  • Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
  • Ask about patient registries that help research
  • Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Bring these questions to your next doctor visit
Which treatments can ease joint pain and swelling?
Which specialist, such as a rheumatologist, should manage my child's care?
How will joint damage be monitored over time?

Quick facts

Symptoms usually startChild and as a Teenager

GARD says the cause is unknown. Having a family member with juvenile arthritis or an autoimmune disease may raise the risk, but it is very rare for more than one family member to have it.

Respiratory

Also known as: enthesitis-related jia; era; juvenile era

Patient organizations

Source: NIH GARD · Enthesitis-related juvenile idiopathic arthritisGARD ID 10969 · GARD page updated September 2026 · Plain-language summary by Know Rare; editorial review pending. General information, not medical advice.

You are more than your diagnosis

Perspectives from people navigating life with Enthesitis-related juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Explore the Enthesitis-related juvenile idiopathic arthritis blog
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Explore research for Enthesitis-related juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Explore actively recruiting Enthesitis-related juvenile idiopathic arthritis studies with HealthSpark.

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Find actively recruiting studies for Enthesitis-related juvenile idiopathic arthritis with HealthSpark. Share your city to explore research near you.

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  • Eligibility is confirmed by the study team

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Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper · Study information from ClinicalTrials.gov · Eligibility is confirmed by the study team.

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