yes, the Pauciarticular of the name means exactly that, a few joints. unfortunately, RA is found on both sides of my sons family (my ex husband's aunts had childhood RA, and i had a 2nd cousin with the more sever form of Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, (the many joint variety)(my family, including me) are plagued by arthritis-i can hardly think of a relative who doesn't have some form.
there is a genetic component to RA--but there are no clear patterns--it tends to run in families, but--there seems to be an inherited weakness, that needs to be triggered--you have to have a genetic marker, Plus a trigger.. but neither the marker or trigger have been identified (for most forms of RA) --
my DIL is trying to make light of it.. (there are many far worse things to beset a child) but it is a serious disease.
(but then, i am a bit of a worry wart!)
still it was the official title that caught my eye..
certainly paucity is word i know,(and it was clear before i looked the term up that the pauci of pauciarticular was a relation of paucity) but i can't think of the last time i used the word paucity... i looked up the root partly because i wondered were else it was used. i figured it was latin or greek (so many medical term have latin and/or greek roots.)--
it is facinating to see all the words that share the same roots.. and the way the meaning shifts and changes.
(this also helps distract me from worrying!)
poor thing!
