20 - Rheumatology Flashcards
If a child has a fever for more than 5 days, what key non-infectious differentials do you need to consider?
- Still’s Disease
- Kawasaki Disease
- Leukaemia
- Rheumatic fever
What examinations do you need to do for a child with a limp?
- Abdomen
- Axillae/Groin
- Testicular
- Hips
- Spine
Do not want to miss things like appendicitis, leukaemia and testicular torsion
What differentials do you need to consider for different aged children with an acute limp?
Apart from MSK issues, what are some other causes of a limp in children?
What is juvenile idiopathic arthritis and the different subtypes of this?
Autoimmune inflammation in the joints. Diagnosed when there is arthritis without any other cause lasting more than 6 weeks and patient aged under 16
Inflammatory arthritis so joint pain, swelling and stiffness
How does Systemic JIA (Still’s disease) present?
- Subtle salmon-pink rash
- High swinging fevers
- Joint inflammation and pain
- Enlarged lymph nodes
- Weight loss
- Splenomegaly
- Muscle pain
- Pleuritis and pericarditis
What bloods will be deranged in Still’s disease?
- Raised inflammatory markers: CRP, ESR, Platelets, Ferritin
- ANA and RhF: negative
What is a key complication of Still’s disease?
Macrophage activation syndrome (MAS)
Severe activation of the immune system with a massive inflammatory response
Acutely unwell child with DIC, anaemia, thrombocytopenia, bleeding and a non-blanching rash. It is life threatening. A key investigation finding is a low ESR
What is polyarticular/pauciarticular JIA?
Idiopathic inflammatory arthritis in 5 joints or more
Usually symmetrical with minimal systemic symptoms
Polyarticular JIA is the equivalent of rheumatoid arthritis in adults but are seronegative
What is oligoarticular JIA?
Involves 4 joints or less, usually only single joint
Tends to affect the larger joints, often the knee or ankle. It occurs more frequently in girls under the age of 6 years
Associated with anterior uveitis. No systemic symptoms
ANA positive but RhF negative
What is Enthesitis-related arthritis in children?
Paediatric version of the seronegative spondyloarthropathy group of conditions that affect adults (AS, IBD, etc)
HLA B27 gene so consider symptoms of psoriasis and IBD e.g nail pitting
Tender to local palpation of enethesis
What is juvenile psoriatic arthritis?
Seronegative inflammatory arthritis associated with psoriasis
Signs on examination:
- Plaques of psoriasis
- Pitting
- Onycholysis
- Dactylitis
- Enthesitis
What are the complications of JIA?
- Growth failure (from steroids and chronic disease)
- Visual impairment (from chronic anterior uveitis)
- Joint destruction (requiring early prosthesis)
- Flexion contractures
- Joint pain into adulthood
How is JIA managed?
Reduce inflammation within the joints, minimise symptoms and maximise function
Refer to Paeds rheumatologist
NSAIDs, Steroids and Immunotherapy
What immunotherapy is used in JIA?
- Steroids: PO, Intrarticular IM
- Methotrexate: first line
- Biologics: TNFa-inhibitors e.g adalimumab, etanercept
What are some causes of reactive arthritis in children?
Urethritis, Arthritis, Conjunctivitis after recent infection
- Rheumatic fever: Streptococcal
- Viral: Gastroenteritis , Rubella, Parvovirus
- STI: Chlamydia trachomatis
What is Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and the different subtypes?
Defects in collagen resulting in abnormal connective tissue in skin, eyes, blood vessels. Leads to hypermobility
Hypermobile EDS: most common and least severe type. They have joint hypermobility, but patients also have soft and stretchy skin
Classical EDS: stretchy skin, severe joint hypermobility, joint pain and abnormal wound healing. Prone to hernias, prolapses, mitral regurgitation and aortic root dilatation. Inheritance is autosomal dominant.
Vascular EDS: most dangerous form of EDS as skin, internal organs and arteries are fragile and prone to rupturing.
How does EDS present?
Joint pain and Hypermobility
- Joint dislocations
- Soft stretchy skin
- Easy bruising
- Poor healing of wounds
- Bleeding
- Headaches
- Autonomic dysfunction causing dizziness and syncope
- GORD
- IBS
- Menorrhagia and dysmenorrhea
- Premature rupture of membranes in pregnancy
- Urinary incontinence
- Pelvic organ prolapse
- TMJ dysfunction
- Myopia and other