This article provides an overview of the rheumatic diseases in childhood, their pathogenesis, epidemiology, diagnosis and clinical course. EULAR, ACR and the current ILAR-classification are compared. The antiinflammatory medical treatment is described. The characteristics of uveitis in the various forms of arthritis are reviewed. The prognostic factors for uveitis manifestation, the clinical course, complications, the prognostic factors for visual loss, and the diverse antiinflammatory medical regimens are evaluated. The suggestions of the "uveitis in childhood study group" concerning screening and treatment of uveitis in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis are provided, and a nation-wide documentation of these patients is described.