Systemic Diseases

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis and other similar diseases mostly affect the joints, although they can also affect other organs as well. On the other hand, systemic rheumatic diseases affect many organ systems, and encompass a massive number of illnesses from systemic lupus erythematosus, to juvenile dermatomyositis, to periodic fever syndromes, to the vasculitides.

Diagnosing and treating these conditions is one of the most notoriously difficult tasks in pediatric medicine. Laboratory tests are often helpful, but oftentimes the diagnosis of many of these problems is mostly based on a careful history and thorough physical exam. Here are some “Up to Date” articles on a few of these systemic diseases:

Systemic lupus erythematosus

Juvenile dermatomyositis

Periodic fever syndromes