The pediatric rheumatology unit at Shaare Zedek Medical Center treats children who have a variety of problems that affect the musculoskeletal system, including- joints, muscles, connective tissues and the soft tissues around the bones and joints.
These included:
- Arthritis (especially juvenile idiopathic arthritis)
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
- Juvenile dermatomyositis
- Juvenile scleroderma
- Vasculitis (inflammation of blood vessels)
- Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF)
- Periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, adenitis syndrome PFAPA
- Other recurrent fever (autoinflammatory) syndromes
- Rheumatic fever
- Pain syndromes of the musculoskeletal system
- Hypermobility
- "Growing" pains
- Unexplained multisystem diseases
Treatments provided by the unit include:
- Injection of steroids into the joints (using sedation when necessary)
- Treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs ("biologicals"), chemotherapy and intravenous steroids
- Multidisciplinary referrals
Children suffering from a rheumatologic disease often need additional evaluation or treatments by physicians specializing in another field. The unit works in close collaboration with many other specialists as needed.