Here are some frequently asked questions you may have about Pediatric Rheumatology . Rheumatology is the medical specialty that cares for pediatric patients with a wide spectrum of disorders, both inflammatory and non-inflammatory of muscle, connective tissue, blood vessels and skin. Many of them are felt to be caused by an aberrant activation of the immune system in that the affected tissues are injured by an inappropriate immune attack.
Arthritis is the term used to describe inflammation and swelling of the tissues in a joint.
There are many different causes of arthritis in children, including a bacterial infection, a drug reaction or an autoimmune reaction. Typically, a child may have a mild upper respiratory infection or common cold and a week or two later develop one or more painful, swollen joints. The arthritis may last for a few days or even several weeks but passes without any permanent damage. Any virus can lead to an arthritis, but the most common causes are Parvovirus, the agent of Fifth's Disease, and Epstein Barr Virus, the agent of infectious mononucleosis. Drugs such as ibuprofen or naproxen help diminish the inflammation which causes the pain and swelling.