Rheumatism in children: recognize early and act properly!

Rheumatism in children: recognize early and act properly!

The disease rheumatism affects not only older people, but also children, and that very early. According to the latest information from the University Clinic for Pediatric and Adolescent Healing Graz, over 3,000 children and adolescents in Austria are affected by rheumatic diseases. The most common form among these is juvenile idiopathic arthritis (Jia), which is more than half of all diagnoses. Babies can already show symptoms such as swollen joints, overheating and movement disorders. Parents should definitely lead these signs to the doctor, because timely detection is crucial for successful treatment. Dr. reported on this Andrea Skrabl-Baumgartner at the pharmacy congress in Schladming.

Symptoms and dangers recognize

rheumatism in children often shows different than in adults. Many young patients do not express their pain so clearly. Instead, they withdraw, lose appetite and show sleep disorders. Growth is often also affected, which can lead to unequal body proportions. Oligoarthritis is particularly dangerous, which occurs in about 50% of Jia patients and can also affect the eyes and jaw joints. An immediate visit to the ophthalmologist is essential here, since uveitis can result in blindness, as Dr. Skrabl-Baumgartner warned. However, this eye disease can often only be recognized by a specialist in good time, which underlines the importance of early diagnosis.

The good news: With modern therapy approaches, 50 to 60% of children and adolescents can achieve inactive disease states with rheumatism. Therapies consist of a combination of drug and physical treatment, supplemented by orthopedic surgeons and psychologists. The new biological therapies, including JAK inhibitors, have significantly improved the forecast, so that promising results could be achieved. A rapid and effective control of the inflammation is the goal of securing the quality of life of the young people affected, as the expert emphasized. In the fight against rheumatism, early access to medical help is of the greatest importance to achieve sustainable successes, as Die Kronen Zeitung reported.