To Your Health: Children with Arthritis

March 27, 2008

Many times people associate arthritis with older individuals, but it also

affects about 300,000 children.

Lukas Gunter is like any other eight-year-old boy. When he's not in school,

going over the three R's, Lukas is spending time on the hardwood or ball

diamond.

Lukas, however, isn't exactly like all the other kids in his class or on his

teams or even his three younger brothers.

When he was about 18 months old, Lukas was diagnosed with juvenile

arthritis.

His mother, Angie Gunter says, " He had swelling on his knee. There was a

fever in it. It was red and he wouldn't put any pressure on it. He was just

learning to walk. So, he would limp on it and favor the other leg. "

The arthritis had been in remission for about three years, but recently

Lukas suffered a flare up, which forced Lukas to just watch the game from

the bench for about two weeks, something that was hard for this budding

athlete.

Right now, Lukas takes two doses of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory

drug, Naproxen, twice a day to help with the pain and swelling.

His mom says the family takes things one day at a time.

She says, " We were always told he could wake up one day and be crippled. It

could be in every joint. We're fortunate that it's just in a couple of

joints right now. "

She and her husband remain optimistic that one day there will be a

cure for arthritis and their son won't ever have to worry about watching

from the sidelines again.

Lukas and his family will be part of the 23rd annual Arthritis Foundation

telethon, which is on Sunday from 2:30-6:00 p.m.

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