John was just 7 when told he had arthritis (From Basildon Recorder)

John was just 7 when told he had arthritis

4:00am Saturday 17th November 2007

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IT'S often looked upon as a disease affecting the elderly.

The truth is there are many children who are living with arthritis - but thankfully they're not suffering in silence.

An estimated eight million people in the UK are affected by arthritis and although a large proportion of these are over 50, around one million are school age children and teenagers.

However, young people who develop the condition - a painful and often debilitating inflammation of the joints - are getting the exceptional help they need to cope through attending Southend Hospital's monthly paediatric rheumatology clinic.

Children like brave John How, ten, who was just seven when his arm remained locked in a bent position for six months.

John, from Shoebury, has been diagnosed with polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis and needs injections three times a week to prevent his joints from seizing up again.

His mum, Elaine, said: "He still gets flare-ups occasionally, but the pain and swelling are nothing like they were."

Even so, the drugs lower John's immune system and last year he only managed to get to school for eight weeks in a 24-week term.

Another sufferer is Hannah Mayo, 19, from Canvey, who was diagnosed with sarcoid and juvenile arthritis when she was just 15 months-old.

There are almost 200 different types of arthritis and Hannah's condition affects her eyes as well as her joints, meaning she has been in and out of hospital all her life: "Very few weeks go by when I do not have at least one appointment," said Hannah.

Hannah's philosophy is to just get on with life, but she admits to being envious of friends who can wear high heels and spend all day shopping - something she is unable to do.

Advances in drug treatment mean Hannah can now control her condition with two tablets a day and two weekly injections instead of nine tablets a day.

She added: "The staff at Southend Hospital have done everything possible for me.

"I am a bit of a guinea pig for new drug treatments, but then again nothing ventured, nothing gained."

A telephone service run by the clinic also helps patients with problems which may crop up between appointments, so families never feel they care coping alone.

Both John and Hannah and their families will be attending a special open afternoon at the clinic later this month which will give young arthritis sufferers in the area the chance to meet and chat about how the disease - which is the greatest cause of disability in the UK - impacts on their lives.

The event will also be a good opportunity for patients and their families to talk to paediatric and rheumatology doctors, physiotherapists, nurses and occupational therapists as well as past patients who are living full and successful lives in spite of their condition.

Consultant rheumatologist, Professor Bhaskar Dasgupta will also give a general overview of the service and plans for the future.

The open afternoon will run from 4pm to 6pm on Tuesday, November 27, in the rheumatology department's outpatients unit at the rear of the hospital in Prittlewell Chase.

For more information call 01702 435555 extension 5318.

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