The Child's Doctor articles
The Child's Doctor, Journal of Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago
The Child's Doctor is published by Children's Memorial Hospital twice a year for community-based physicians. The journal offers continuing medical education (CME) through articles authored by Children's Memorial's physicians. It also includes news articles on research at Children's Memorial. Read the latest issue of The Child's Doctor here.
Articles on topics in pediatric rheumatology:
Approach to the Child with Joint Pain, but Normal Physical Examination by Michael Miller, MD Published Fall 2006
Although a diagnosis of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) may not be possible for months after onset of symptoms, other conditions can also present with arthralgia and an initially normal physical examination. JRA is a diagnosis made in children younger than 16 years of age, in whom arthritis has been present for at least 6 weeks, and other diagnoses have been excluded. It is as important not to miss an alternate diagnosis, such as malignancy, infection, or psychologic problem, as it is not to delay treatment for inflammatory arthritis, once reasonable efforts have been made to exclude other causes. This article reviews the differential diagnosis of JRA, emphasizing conditions that may initially present without physical findings. We will consider the approach to evaluation and monitoring for changes that permit diagnosis.
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