title: The place of pediatric rheumatology in India.
abstract: Rheumatology is a relatively new specialty in the field of Pediatrics in India where there are only a few centres of excellence. Awareness about these conditions in childhood is lacking and patients are often referred late resulting in poor long term outcomes. This article highlights the needs of the paediatric rheumatology patients which are complex and should encompass both acute and chronic care and also plan a smooth transition to the adult rheumatology world. In the year 2010, attaining remission is the goal for every child with a rheumatologic disorder, which is seldom achieved for the Indian pediatric rheumatologic patient. The article discusses the reasons for poor awareness, the current outcome for these patients and details the burden of disease in India. The health care delivery system and finally the way forward have been discussed.
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Rheumatology Division, Centre for Child health, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, India 110022. drsujatasawhney@gmail.com
authors.forename: Sujata
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sawhney
authors.forename: Prudence
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Manners
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010372:Pediatrics; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D012219:Rheumatology / Q000458:organization & administration*
references.citation: Emerg Med J. 2006 Sep;23(9):667-71
references.pmid: 16921075
references.citation: Arthritis Rheum. 1999 Feb;42(2):396
references.pmid: 10025938
references.citation: Rheumatology (Oxford). 2004 Jun;43(6):737-43
references.pmid: 14997008
references.citation: Horm Res. 2009 Nov;72 Suppl 1:20-5
references.pmid: 19940491
references.citation: Indian J Pediatr. 2002 Oct;69(10):873-4
references.pmid: 12450297
references.citation: Indian Pediatr. 1997 Nov;34(11):979-86
references.pmid: 9567527
references.citation: J Rheumatol. 2004 Aug;31(8):1650-4
references.pmid: 15290748
references.citation: Pediatr Rheumatol Online J. 2008 Oct 22;6:18
references.pmid: 18945336
references.citation: Clin Exp Rheumatol. 1994 Sep-Oct;12 Suppl 10:S113-6
references.pmid: 7955620
references.citation: Indian Pediatr. 2004 Feb;41(2):180-4
references.pmid: 15004305
references.citation: Arthritis Rheum. 2007 Aug 15;57(6):921-7
references.pmid: 17665486
references.citation: Br J Rheumatol. 1996 Apr;35(4):389-91
references.pmid: 8624647
references.citation: Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2009 Jul-Aug;27(4):685-90
references.pmid: 19772807
references.citation: Clin Rheumatol. 2008 Oct;27(10):1261-5
references.pmid: 18500441
references.citation: Arthritis Rheum. 2002 Sep;46(9):2392-401
references.pmid: 12355487
references.citation: Child Care Health Dev. 2009 Jan;35(1):41-7
references.pmid: 18785969