We conducted a retrospective chart review for all 42 patients, 9 males and 33 females, diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic oligoarthritis between July 1995 and October 2004 at the paediatric rheumatology clinic in King Hussein Medical Centre. Age range was 1.2-15.2 years, mean 3.6 (standard deviation 2.4) years. Of those <6 years, 80% were females. Most patients (64%) had monoarthritis; the knee was the most common joint affected (71%). Two patients had developed extended oligoarthritis. Nine (21%) had asymptomatic uveitis: 6 females (P = 0.350), 7 (77%) <3 years of age (P = 0.301) and 7 (77%) with antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) (P = 0.071). Eighteen (43%) females were positive for ANAs. Most patients had undergone unnecessary, lengthy work-up and treatment before diagnosis.