Rheumatology

It is estimated that nearly 300,000 children in the United States have arthritis. It can be a feature of many different childhood illnesses such as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), dermatomyositis (JDMS), scleroderma, vasculitis, and immunodeficiencies.

Diagnosis

• KU's Pediatric Arthritis Clinic serves the region by providing diagnostic evaluation and treatment for these children. Arthritis can affect the physical, psychological, social and intellectual development of a child. For that reason, a team of highly trained health care professionals is available to provide a family-centered treatment program individualized to each patient. Physicians who refer their patients to us receive regular correspondence regarding their patients' evaluation and recommended treatment.

Goals of Treatment

• Each patient receives a treatment program that considers age, disease activity and affected joints. The goals of treatment include relief from pain and other symptoms, prevention of joint deformity and normalization of the child's growth and daily activities. In our family-centered program, we teach self-care and encourage parental involvement in the care of each child.