Rheumatologic Disorders

Rheumatic diseases are characterized by chronic inflammation frequently in the joints but also in other tissues and organs, with periods of disease activity and remission. When considering an inflammatory cause of joint symptoms, key elements of the history provide important clues to inform the diagnosis. While inflammatory arthritis is the primary manifestation of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), other rheumatic diseases involve multiple organs beyond the joints, and thus detailed, comprehensive history and physical examination are critical. With early diagnosis and improved treatment, children with rheumatic diseases are more likely to survive into adulthood and thus attention to the long-term impact of a chronic disease and its therapies is essential. This chapter discusses rheumatic diseases such as JIA, oligoarticular JIA, polyarticular JIA, enthesitis-related arthritis, systemic JIA, systemic lupus erythematosus, juvenile dermatomyositis, juvenile scleroderma, juvenile systemic sclerosis, and juvenile localized scleroderma.