Pediatric Rheumatology | Helen DeVos Children's Hospital

Rheumatology focuses on auto-immune diseases that involve the joints, muscles and connective tissues. These conditions occur when your body recognizes itself as a threat and fights against itself. While a chronic auto-immune disease is a life-long disorder, advanced therapies can keep patients in complete remission.

Children with an auto-immune disease can go through periods of flare-ups before they are diagnosed. Our pediatric rheumatology specialists provide highly specialized diagnosis and treatment for infants, children and teens who have auto-immune diseases and disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Helen DeVos Children's Hospital is proud to offer three pediatric rheumatologists on our team, since there are only 300 such experts in the entire country.

Our skilled pediatric rheumatology team offers long-term treatment plans for kids with auto-immune disease. Because these conditions typically affect movement and quality of daily life, our specialists work closely with you and your child to develop safe, comfortable and healthy levels of activity.

Often our doctors consult with immunologists and palliative care specialists to make sure you and your child have the complete care needed to manage disease symptoms. Our comprehensive care also includes coordination with other pediatric specialties at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital, including radiology, orthopedics, nephrology and rehabilitation.

Conditions we treat

Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints that is characterized by swelling, heat and pain. While there is no identifiable cause, this chronic auto-immune disease is very common - nearly 300,000 children in the United States have some sort of arthritis.

The most prevalent form of juvenile arthritis is juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). JIA usually appears in kids between 18 months and 16 years old. Our pediatric rheumatology specialists can help diagnose and manage arthritis symptoms in children and teenagers. We work closely with pediatric orthopedic and rehabilitation specialists to help your child achieve a safe activity level that is healthy, comfortable and enjoyable.

Treatment options

To effectively manage and minimize the effects of juvenile arthritis, an early and accurate diagnosis is essential. Our pediatric rheumatology experts evaluate symptoms and precisely design a treatment plan to ensure each child manages joint pain and maintains an appropriate level of activity.

Chronic juvenile arthritis may seem like "growing pains." But normal growing pains usually occur in the bones (below the knee and on both sides), randomly throughout the day and are generally not related to activity. Juvenile arthritis is more specific to the joints, goes on for six weeks or more and usually causes pain in the morning that improves throughout the day. Activity usually alleviates the pain.

Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints that is characterized by swelling, heat and pain. While there is no identifiable cause, this chronic auto-immune disease is very common - nearly 300,000 children in the United States have some sort of arthritis.

The most prevalent form of juvenile arthritis is juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). JIA usually appears in kids between 18 months and 16 years old. Our pediatric rheumatology specialists can help diagnose and manage arthritis symptoms in children and teenagers. We work closely with pediatric orthopedic and rehabilitation specialists to help your child achieve a safe activity level that is healthy, comfortable and enjoyable.

Treatment options

To effectively manage and minimize the effects of juvenile arthritis, an early and accurate diagnosis is essential. Our pediatric rheumatology experts evaluate symptoms and precisely design a treatment plan to ensure each child manages joint pain and maintains an appropriate level of activity.

Chronic juvenile arthritis may seem like "growing pains." But normal growing pains usually occur in the bones (below the knee and on both sides), randomly throughout the day and are generally not related to activity. Juvenile arthritis is more specific to the joints, goes on for six weeks or more and usually causes pain in the morning that improves throughout the day. Activity usually alleviates the pain.

Juvenile dermatomyositis, or JDM, presents primarily as weakness, but other symptoms such as rash, muscle weakness, inability to walk, fever and joint pain can also present. While juvenile arthritis occurs mainly in the joints, JDM centers on the skin and muscle, only sometimes causing painful joints.

Our pediatric rheumatology specialists provide highly specialized diagnosis and treatment for children and teens that have auto-immune diseases and disorders of the musculoskeletal system, including dermatomyositis.

Treatment options

In order to diagnose a patient with juvenile dermatomyositis, a muscle biopsy is taken and analyzed. Patients who suffer from JDM are typically genetically predisposed to this disease, which is often aggravated by environmental triggers. JDM occurs at any age and can be sent into remission. Our pediatric rheumatology experts will work with you and other pediatric specialists toward that goal.

Biologics

These new drugs are called “biologics” because they’re made from active biological material, rather than chemical compounds. Many are monoclonal antibodies, or drugs that behave like human antibodies trained to attack a specific threat to the immune system. Some of these medications are given through skin injections or intravenous infusion. Patients have access to the top-notch on-site infusion center.

Non-biological disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs)

Different chemical treatments, such as low dose Methotrexate, may be needed to control a child’s JIA.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

Using prescription medicine can be an effective treatment for JIA. Our team continues to monitor children and perform routine follow-ups (often every two or three months).

Occupational and physical therapy

Based on a child’s physical demands and symptoms, working with a physical or occupational therapist may benefit a patient.

This auto-immune disease attacks multiple systems, including the joints, blood and organs such as the kidneys. Symptoms can also include fatigue, rash, mouth ulcers and hair loss. Because symptoms are broad, vary from person to person and often come and go, it can be hard to diagnose and treat lupus.

We're proud to have a specialized pediatric rheumatology team, with experts at diagnosing and treating children with lupus and other auto-immune disorders. Our doctors will also coordinate with other specialists at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital in radiology, orthopedics, nephrology, immunology, palliative care and rehabilitation to provide comprehensive care to your child.

Treatment options

Although the cause of lupus is unknown, it usually occurs in kids with genetic susceptibility and exposed to environmental triggers, such as ultra-violet radiation. Most people with lupus are diagnosed between the ages of 15 and 44, though symptoms and diagnosis may occur much earlier.

There currently isn't a cure for lupus, but the symptoms can be controlled. Our pediatric rheumatologists will work with you and other specialists on a plan to prevent flare-ups in your child.

Biologics

These new drugs are called “biologics” because they’re made from active biological material, rather than chemical compounds. Many are monoclonal antibodies, or drugs that behave like human antibodies trained to attack a specific threat to the immune system. Some of these medications are given through skin injections or intravenous infusion. Patients have access to the top-notch on-site infusion center.

Non-biological disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs)

Different chemical treatments, such as low dose Methotrexate, may be needed to control a child’s JIA.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

Using prescription medicine can be an effective treatment for JIA. Our team continues to monitor children and perform routine follow-ups (often every two or three months).

Work with pediatric colleagues

Because of the link to the kidneys and blood, our expert rheumatologists consult with other pediatric specialists like kidney doctors to build the best treatment plan.

Undifferentiated connective tissue disease (UCTD) features symptoms of multiple auto-immune diseases, but doesn't fall into a specific diagnosis. These symptoms limit a child's ability to thrive, but should be treated similarly to any other auto-immune disease with prompt and professional care.

Our pediatric rheumatology specialists provide highly specialized diagnosis and treatment for children and teens that have auto-immune diseases and disorders of the musculoskeletal system.

Treatment options

Symptoms of undifferentiated connective tissue disease (UCTD) present differently from person to person. Our pediatric rheumatology specialists will develop a personalized plan to try and manage your child's specific symptoms.

Biologics

These new drugs are called “biologics” because they’re made from active biological material, rather than chemical compounds. Many are monoclonal antibodies, or drugs that behave like human antibodies trained to attack a specific threat to the immune system. Some of these medications are given through skin injections or intravenous infusion. Patients have access to the top-notch on-site infusion center.

Non-biological disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs)

Different chemical treatments, such as low dose Methotrexate, may be needed to control a child’s JIA.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

Using prescription medicine can be an effective treatment for JIA. Our team continues to monitor children and perform routine follow-ups (often every two or three months).

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