Higher Chronic Disease Risk for Children of Mothers with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Children born to mothers who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis may have a much higher risk of suffering from chronic diseases. That information comes from a new study which found that fetuses that are exposed to symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis while still in the womb, may have a higher risk of developing a high sensitivity to certain chronic conditions.
In a study recently published by the Arthritis Care and Research Journal, researchers reviewed 2100 Danish children born to mothers with rheumatoid arthritis between 1989 and 2013. The study found that children of mothers who suffered from rheumatoid arthritis during their pregnancy were at a higher risk of chronic disease compared to children of mothers who did not suffer from rheumatoid arthritis. The researchers focused on 15 kinds of diseases, including epilepsy, asthma, and other diseases that are chronic in nature. The most severe risks seemed to involve chronic conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, epilepsy, thyroid conditions, asthma, and anxiety.
Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis typically begin in the joints, and spread around the body. A person who suffers from rheumatoid arthritis may suffer from inflammation, swelling and pain in the knees, hips, joints, feet, shoulders and hands. Other symptoms include weight loss, fatigue, tiredness, and fevers. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis may find that their joints become deformed over a period of time.