Recent figures released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) shows hospitalisation rates for juvenile arthritis is increasing.

The Snapshot of juvenile arthritis report examines the extent, treatment and experience of arthritis in children aged 0 to 15 years, concluding that it affects an estimated 0.3 per cent of Australian children.

The report shows that in the 10 years from 2000-01 to 2009-10, hospitalisations for children with juvenile arthritis tripled.

“The evidence is limited, but suggests that more girls suffer from juvenile arthritis than boys,” said AIHW spokesperson Nigel Harding.

The hospitalisation rate rose from 8.8 per 100,000 people in 2000-01 to 28.9 per 100,000 people in 2009-10. Girls accounted for most of this increase.

“There are a few possible explanations for the increase in the hospitalisation rate,” Mr Harding said.

'These include an increase in the number of children with the condition, changes in hospital admission practices for this condition, changes in the procedures available to treat the condition in hospital, and broader changes in the way this condition is managed in the health care system.'