Caring for pediatric patients during a pandemicin the age of COVID-19 requires adaptations, says Jay Mehta, MD, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “The one exposure that seems to put [pediatric] patients at risk is if they are on higher doses of steroids, with some data suggesting worse outcomes. We just put out guidelines telling providers to reduce steroids in their patients to the lowest dose that can adequately control their disease.”
A 17-year-old girl presents to the pediatric rheumatology clinic for follow-up of recently diagnosed systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) characterized by class IV lupus nephritis, photosensitive rash and antiphospholid antibody positivity. She is currently being treated with prednisone, mycophenolate mofetil, and hydroxychloroquine. She is accompanied by her mother, who has been very involved in the patient’s…
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) can affect all joints, including the temporomandibular joints (TMJs). For a long time, the TMJ was a “forgotten” joint in pediatric rheumatology, although Sir Frederick Still did comment on a small mandible in his first case series on juvenile arthritis in 1897. In recent years, more attention has been given to…
In Canada, five provinces will now reimburse patients with plaque psoriasis who use risankizumab. Also, Canada Health has approved apremilast for treating adults with plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis…
A bill introduced in January in the Washington Legislature would allow pediatric and juvenile rheumatologists to access the state’s loan forgiveness program.
Current legislation that stipulates a loan repayment program for pediatric subspecialists could help the pediatric rheumatology community attract trainees and meet patient demand.
ATLANTA—Managing teenage patients may present challenges for pediatric rheumatologists and rheumatology professionals not only because of their often complex, rare conditions, but because teenagers are, well, teenagers. Teens may experiment with sexual intercourse, alcohol use, tobacco or vaping e-cigarettes to fit in with their peers, even if these habits have serious health consequences, according to…
In the middle of a busy clinic I go to see my next patient, a 16-year-old girl with a swollen knee. I had seen her the week before and, after discussing the options regarding treatment of her arthritis, had organized a joint injection for today. As I walk in the door she emphatically informs me,…
At this year’s ACR/ARP Annual Meeting, Nov. 8–13, all of the pediatric rheumatology sessions will take place in the same room, making it easy to access all of the exciting content. Planners hope this convenient setup facilitates networking before and after symposia. “In pediatric rheumatology, we are very tight-knit community. This [event] is our opportunity…
New in 2019, pediatric rheumatologists will be able to network in a community lounge, as well as attend the cutting-edge educational sessions specific to the field. Here’s a sneak peek…