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What is Pediatric Rheumatology?

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Pediatric rheumatology is a specialty area of medicine that focuses on inflammatory conditions like arthritis and others, as they affect children. Each pediatric rheumatologist is well trained for this field, and has first completed medical school and three or more years specialty training in pediatrics. They then complete an additional three years residency in pediatric rheumatology.

There are many conditions in which pediatric rheumatology takes an interest. Though many people associate this specialty with the treatment of arthritis in children, lots of other suspected illnesses could have general practitioners or pediatricians recommend a child see a pediatric rheumatologist. Some of these conditions include lupus, Kawasaki disease and scleroderma. Any case of suspected inflammatory illness that affects the muscles, bones or joints, and sometimes the organs, or that causes things like rashes and unexplained fever might be of interest to a pediatric rheumatologist.

An explained fever may be evaluated by a pediatric rheumatologist.
An explained fever may be evaluated by a pediatric rheumatologist.

In pediatric rheumatology, principle issues are examination, diagnosis and treatment of patients. Patients can be assessed in numerous ways, such as through physical examination, through blood testing, by aspirating fluid from joints, and by performing various scans like x-rays, magnetic resonance imaging or computerized axial tomography. Sometimes diagnosis is easy to make, and other times illnesses resist diagnosis or may fall outside of the rheumatology field, necessitating referral to another specialist.

Many pediatric rheumatologists work at children's hospitals or in large, major hospitals.
Many pediatric rheumatologists work at children's hospitals or in large, major hospitals.

Based on diagnoses, the pediatric rheumatologist then institutes treatment of varying kinds. This could include prescribing medications that can help or recommending surgery from time to time. Other treatments might be required as needed, and pediatric rheumatologists may work with additional doctors or allied health professionals like physical therapists, occupational therapists, nutritionists and psychologists or mental health therapists. Many children who are diagnosed with chronic illnesses will require support in a number of areas, and pediatric rheumatologists can help direct parents to finding that extra support.

Scans like X-rays may help to assess the condition of pediatric rheumatology patients.
Scans like X-rays may help to assess the condition of pediatric rheumatology patients.

When children have chronic conditions like juvenile arthritis or scleroderma, they may have at least one specialist in pediatric rheumatology that follows their care through childhood. Eventually care would be turned over to adult specialists in this field, called rheumatologists. Many rheumatologists are quite familiar with the diseases that children may get, but they tend to more exclusively treat adults.

A pediatric rheumatologist is a licensed physician who has completed extensive training in her area of specialty.
A pediatric rheumatologist is a licensed physician who has completed extensive training in her area of specialty.

It’s not always easy to find a pediatric rheumatologist. Many of them work at either children’s hospitals or major hospitals with an extensive children’s department, and a number of these hospitals are located in more populous areas. On the other hand, the occasional doctor may maintain a practice in a community that is smaller, or sometimes a larger community hospital hires one of these doctors for specialty consultation. Most pediatricians keep up on the pediatric specialties and can direct parents to the nearest pediatric rheumatology department if it is needed.

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent WiseGEEK contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent WiseGEEK contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

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    • An explained fever may be evaluated by a pediatric rheumatologist.
      By: robhainer
      An explained fever may be evaluated by a pediatric rheumatologist.
    • Many pediatric rheumatologists work at children's hospitals or in large, major hospitals.
      By: Darren Baker
      Many pediatric rheumatologists work at children's hospitals or in large, major hospitals.
    • Scans like X-rays may help to assess the condition of pediatric rheumatology patients.
      By: Gennadiy Poznyakov
      Scans like X-rays may help to assess the condition of pediatric rheumatology patients.
    • A pediatric rheumatologist is a licensed physician who has completed extensive training in her area of specialty.
      By: Andres Rodriguez
      A pediatric rheumatologist is a licensed physician who has completed extensive training in her area of specialty.