The symptoms of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) may take several weeks or months before they are noticeable. Children may experience joint pain or swelling but might not complain about it. Some may have stiffness, especially early in the morning or after a nap. A child with an affected knee may limp in the morning but get better later in the day.

The signs and symptoms may vary from day to day, or even within one day. Certain eye problems associated with JRA may have no symptoms.

The most common symptoms associated with JRA include:

• Joint pain, swelling or stiffness. A joint must be swollen for at least six weeks to be considered for a diagnosis of JRA.
  
  
• Muscle aches. Usually affect muscles throughout the body, and not just one part.
  
  
• Recurrent fevers. High fevers that come and go occur with systemic JRA. Low-grade fevers are common with polyarticular JRA.
  
  
• Skin rash. A pink rash occurs with systemic JRA.
  
  
• Rheumatoid nodules. Painless lumps under the skin at the elbows and feet may be found in some children with polyarticular JRA.
  
  
• Eye problems. Redness, eye pain and sensitivity to light may occur in children with some forms of polyarticular JRA.

• Swollen lymph nodes. These may occur in children with systemic JRA.
  
  
• Weight loss. Weight loss may be unexplained or may occur because the child does not feel like eating.

Some children do not complain of pain, but parents or others may notice other signs of illness. Some JRA signs that parents may notice include:

• Limping or other gait disturbances, especially in the morning. This can be an early sign due to involvement of a knee joint.
  
  
• Reluctance to use an arm or leg.
  
  
• Reduced activity level.
  
  
• Changed dental or eating habits as a result of jaw pain, dental pain or orofacial pain.