Diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus are often thought of as chronic conditions affecting older adults, but children can suffer from these types of disorders as well.

“If your child complains of joint or muscle pain, swelling that lasts more than a week or two, stiffness, unexplained fevers, loss of appetite, or fatigue, it may be time for them to see a pediatric rheumatologist,” says Caitlin Ensor, MD, a pediatric rheumatologist with Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital, part of Jefferson Health.

Pediatric rheumatologists treat such conditions as:

• Juvenile idiopathic arthritis – a common type of arthritis in teenagers and children.

• Systemic lupus erythematosus – in which the body’s immune system attacks healthy tissue.

• Kawasaki disease – inflammation of blood vessel walls.

• Juvenile dermatomyositis – an inflammatory disease that causes muscle weakness and skin rashes.

• Scleroderma – abnormal thickening and hardening of the skin.

“Juvenile autoimmune or autoinflammatory conditions are rare,” Dr. Ensor explains, “affecting only about 5% of children worldwide.” But when these diseases do strike, they can be serious, and they can require a specialist.

The medical specialty of pediatric rheumatology is not the same as adult rheumatology, because children and adolescents have unique medical needs and symptoms that differ from those of adults.

In children, these diseases are best managed by specialists who are attuned not only to the latest advances in pediatric rheumatological care, but also to the special needs of families at a stressful time.

Pediatric rheumatologists are physicians who have completed the three-year pediatric training program after medical school and another three-year training in pediatric rheumatology.

Autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases are not contagious, Dr. Ensor says, so your child cannot catch them from another person. However, some of these conditions are hereditary, she explains, so they can run in families.

The most common condition treated by pediatric rheumatologists is juvenile idiopathic arthritis, which can cause pain, swelling, and stiffness in the joints.

Juvenile arthritis can develop in children as early as 6 months of age. Some children with this disease do go into long-term remission or outgrow the diseases, Dr. Ensor says, but this can depend on the exact type of the disease and how soon treatment begins.

To treat juvenile arthritis, pediatric rheumatologists concentrate on pain relief, keeping joints mobile, reducing swelling, and helping prevent long-term damage to the joints. Treatment can include medication, physical and occupational therapy, exercise, lifestyle modifications, and in some cases, surgery.

For more information, visit LVHN.org/children. For an appointment, call 888-402-LVHN (5846).