The number of children admitted to hospital with arthritis in Australia has tripled over the past decade.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare said juvenile arthritis affects less than 1% of Australian children, but is more common in girls than boys.
The ABC reports the hospitalisation rate of children aged up to 15, tripled between 2000 - 2010, but the institute said it was hard to pinpoint exactly why.
Much of the increase was for same-day admissions.
