Clinical Examination of a Child with Arthritic Symptoms

Arthritis presents as joint swelling, limitation of motion, or both, and it is associated with tenderness on movement or increased warmth of the jointin case of a bacterial infection often also redness and pain of the joint as well as general symptoms like fever pain. In aseptic arthritis, pain is rarely a prominent symptom, whereas stiffness after rest is a typical sign. Pain after exercise is more common in non-inflammatory joint affection. If the history suggests arthritis but there are no clinical findings the child should be re-examined when the symptoms recur.