In the early stages, it can be difficult to diagnose rheumatic diseases. For example, figuring out the difference between typical growing pains and juvenile arthritis often requires a pediatric rheumatologist. If you notice any of the following symptoms in your child, call your pediatrician to discuss. Your child’s doctor may order additional tests to find out what’s going on, and you may be referred to a Rainbow rheumatologist for further evaluation and treatment.
If your child is experiencing any of the following combinations of symptoms, which could signal a rheumatic disease, you’ll want to schedule an appointment with your pediatrician:
- Joint swelling, morning stiffness or pain, joint damage or change in growth, muscle weakness, fever, rash, eye inflammation, or weakness in soft tissues around the joints. These symptoms may be early indications of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis or a related disease, especially if the pain is severe, lasts for more than three or four days, or occurs frequently, although there is great variation in symptoms from child to child.
- Joint pain and swelling in wrists and fingers, rash on nose and cheeks, sensitivity to sunlight that causes rash and fever, mouth or nose sores, weakness, weight loss. These are classic symptoms of lupus, a disease where a person’s immune system attacks healthy tissues and joints.
- Muscle weakness, fever, loss of appetite, fatigue. These symptoms may indicate vasculitis, an inflammation of the blood vessels. Other symptoms may appear depending on what part of the body is affected.
Other symptom groups to watch for—signs your pediatrician will want to know about—include the following:
- Dry mouth, nose, throat and lungs, dry eyes that feel sandy, joint and muscle pain, tiredness, trouble chewing or swallowing.
- Joint pain and swelling, muscle weakness, red patches on elbows, knees, ankles, knuckles or face.
- Tender spots in the soft tissues that are painful when touched, fatigue, trouble sleeping, aches and pains in muscles, tendons and ligaments.
- Red eyes, light sensitivity, blurred vision.
- Fever, rash, swollen lymph glands, joint pain.
- Swollen and watery eyes, high fever lasting 5 days or more, red and swollen hands and feet, rash, swollen lymph glands in neck.
- Knee pain, tightness or full feeling in knee, knee discomfort brought on by activity or long periods of sitting.
If you find any of the above symptoms in your child, call your pediatrician to discuss the possibility of a musculoskeletal disorder, which may benefit from a referral to a pediatric rheumatologist.