Juvenile rheumatoid is the most common rheumatological
disease in
children and is one of the most common chronic
diseases of childhood. It represents a group of disorders that all share the clinical manifestation of chronic joint inflammation. The etiology is largely unknown, and the genetic component is complex, making clear distinctions between the various subtypes difficult. As a result, various classification criteria are recognized, with different benefits and limitations. A new nomenclature, juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), is increasingly used and is replacing the term juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.