Joint Efforts: the Role of Families and Physicians in the Treatment of Children with Arthritis —
Tuesday February 10, 2009 - 12 noon (EST)
- Department of Rheumatic and Immunologic Disease
- Orthopaedic and Rheumatologic Institute
- Cleveland Clinic
Joint swelling, stiffness and reduced motion could be a sign of Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). JIA, formerly known as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, affects about 1 in 1,000 children, or about 100,000 children in the United States and is a common type of arthritis of children 16 years of age or younger. JIA is a chronic disease that can affect joints in any part of the body. Other areas of the body, especially the eyes, also may be affected by the inflammation. Without treatment, JIA can interfere with a child's normal growth and development.
Steven Spalding, MD, is an Associate Staff Member in the Department for Rheumatic and Immunologic Disease. He is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics in general pediatrics as well as a member of several professional societies, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Rheumatology and Childhood Arthritis & Rheumatology Research Alliance.
Dr. Spalding has presented, published and participated in research on a variety of pediatric rheumatology subjects, including pediatric vasculitis, juvenile arthritis, recurrent fever syndromes, and neonatal lupus.
Dr. Spalding is part of both the Orthopaedic & Rheumatologic Institute and the Pediatric Institute & Children's Hospital which represents the best of both worlds for our patients. He is quoted as saying "Families often follow a circuitous route to the diagnosis of a child's rheumatologic condition. Both parents and child initially feel overwhelmed and powerless, especially because many conditions are life-long. As pediatric rheumatologists, we can have a major impact on the way children and families deal with these illnesses by acting as caregivers, educators and advocates. The long-lasting bonds formed and the guidance offered is a 'win-win' situation for both physician and family."
Our pediatric rheumatologists have availability to numerous clinical trials of state-of-the-art treatments for juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, the ability to track patient outcomes in chronic diseases over time, expertise in the diagnosis of complex autoimmune diseases with varying symptoms, skill in the identification and management of periodic fever syndromes, and access to the renowned Cleveland Clinic Center for Vasculitis Care and Research.
Dr. Spalding currently sees patients at Cleveland Clinic's Main Campus, at Hillcrest Medical Building in Mayfield Heights or at Avon Family Health Center.
This Health Chat will open on February 9, 2009 to allow you to submit questions. We will try to answer as many questions as possible during the chat. Please create an account to attend the chat and submit your questions.
