Clovis teen shares journey living with juvenile arthritis

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- July is Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month.

Most deliberation of it arsenic a illness that lone impacts older adults, but according to Central Valley doctors, there's a increasing colonisation of children who are getting diagnosed.

Swollen fingers and swollen toes are present a regular portion of Maddison Lopez's mornings.

She was diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis erstwhile she was 11 years aged -- aft a weeks-long headache, arsenic good arsenic associated symptom and swelling.

"It was benignant of bully to know," said Brittany Johnson, Lopez's mom. "Now we tin really instrumentality steps to assistance hole immoderate this is, but knowing that it's an autoimmune, I cognize that it's not going to conscionable spell away, but that it's going to beryllium a lifelong conflict for her."

Lopez is present 15 years old, and often struggles with regular activities.

"Why is picking up a hairbrush that's a struggle, oregon toothbrush," she asked. "It's getting a small amended now."

According to The American College of Rheumatology, astir 300,000 children successful the state are diagnosed with juvenile arthritis.

At Valley Children's Hospital, doctors said they're serving a immense colonisation with this condition.

"We request to marque definite we don't miss it due to the fact that we privation to prevention those small joints," said Dr. Reshma Patel.

Patel, a pediatric rheumatologist, said arthritis tin interaction kids 16 years and younger.

There's nary known cause. However, probe shows genetics tin play a relation but besides vulnerability to definite things, specified arsenic an infection.

"I similar to accidental that lock, you know, that password connected our phone. You got to get each those digits close to unlock and crook things on," Dr. Patel explained. "So determination are things that trigger a airy power to crook connected for these children."

It's important juvenile arthritis is treated, oregon Dr. Patel said it could pb to imperishable associated damage.

Maddison and her ma are thankful for the medications she's on, which let her to inactive radiance connected the shot field.

Of course, Maddison knows she has limits.

"I'll person to conscionable measurement disconnected to the side, if my knees commencement hurting," she shared. "I'm like, 'This is going to marque maine suffer my mind,' due to the fact that I conscionable privation to play and I can't."

As she gets older, owed to household past and her autoimmune disease, Maddison becomes much astatine hazard for lupus.

For now, she and her household are thankful for the wellness that she has today.

For quality updates, travel Amanda Aguilar connected Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.