
More than 220,000 young people under the age of 18 in the U.S. have arthritis, a condition that is most common in the elderly, according to a report from the CDC.
The findings are based on an analysis of 2017-2021 data collected through the Census Bureau’s National Survey of Children’s Health. Parents of 173,406 young people provided data, weighted to reflect a representative national sample.
According to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of children and adolescents with arthritis increases with age, and those with arthritis are more likely to be overweight or suffer from anxiety, depression, or heart disease than those without arthritis. The CDC also reported that the number of Black children and teens with arthritis was “twice as high as that of Whites.”
Treatment for juvenile arthritis may be twofold: medications to combat inflammation and treat stiffness and pain, along with physical therapy to improve movement, endurance and muscle strength.
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This article is part of The Post’s “Big Number” series, which takes a brief look at the statistical aspect of health issues. Additional information and relevant research are available through the hyperlinks.