In the United States alone, roughly 300,000 children suffer from some form of arthritis or rheumatic disease, and millions more are at risk of developing one of these diseases. In this marvelously down-to-earth guide, Thomas Lehman--the head of one of the leading pediatric rheumatology programs in the world--offers a gold mine of expert advice invaluable for pediatricians who want to become more proficient in understanding, diagnosing, and treating rheumatic disease in children. Dr. Lehman helps pediatricians interpret their patients' complaints and determine whether and what type of medical attention is needed, explaining what symptoms to look for, what questions to ask, what tests to run, and what to expect when treatment begins. Using illustrative anecdotes, this book sheds light on a wide range of rheumatic disorders--including juvenile arthritis, Lyme disease, lupus, Kawasaki disease, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome--and it addresses such crucial topics as drug safety, genetic considerations, the potential risks to children posed by medications, the difficulty of family life when a child has a chronic disease, and much more. A Clinician's Guide to Rheumatic Diseases in Children captures the expertise of a dedicated physician with over thirty years of hands-on experience helping children lead normal, happy lives. It will help pediatricians make sure that patients achieve the best possible outcome.

PART I: A CHILD COMPLAINS OF PAIN 1. Growing Pains? 2. Figuring Out What's Wrong 3. Common Causes of Pain 4. The Child Who Hurts All Over 5. Sports Injuries PART II: THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES AND RELATED CONDITIONS 6. Why Do Children Get Rheumatic Disease? 7. Juvenile Arthritis 8. Uveitis: Eye Complications of Juvenile Arthritis and Related Conditions 9. Spondyloarthropathies: Enthesitis-associated Arthritis 10. Lyme Disease 11. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus 12. Mixed Connective Tissue Disease (MCTD) 13. Sjogren's Syndrome 14. Raynaud's Phenomenon 15. Scleroderma 16. Dermatomyositis and Polymyositis 17. Kawasaki Disease 18. Benign Hypermobile Joint Syndrome and Ehlers Dahnlos Syndrome 19. Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome 20. Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, Reflex Neurovascular Dystrophy, and Complex Regional Pain Syndromes 21. Osteoporosis and Osteopenia 22. Genetic Conditions PART III: LIVING WITH A CHILD WHO HAS A CHRONIC CONDITION 23. Medications and Immunizations 24. Alternative Medicine: Vitamins and Supplements 25. Understanding Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests 26. Reconstructive Surgery 27. Family Issues 28. Getting the Best Results