Rheumatoid arthritis and connective tissue disorders: juvenile chronic arthritis

Summary That juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA) occurs in tropical countries there is no doubt. The spectrum of differential diagnoses is wider than in temperate regions. The disease tends to be more severe irrespective of the type of onset, and there is a high incidence of positive rheumatoid factor. Many cases present with advanced disease. There is a need for the establishment of clinics devoted specifically to the detection, documentation, and treatment of JCA.