Child arthritis awareness campaign launched after rise in cases

A campaign to raise awareness of very young children with arthritis has been launched after a three-fold increase in cases in the south of England.

Although it is a disease normally associated with older people, as many as one child in every 1,000 may get it, health professionals say.

In Hampshire and Dorset, 500 children have been diagnosed with it, some as young as 12 months old.

Southampton General Hospital said it has seen children's appointments rise to more than a 1,000-a-year.