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Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffIf your pediatrician or family doctor suspects that your child has juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, he or she may refer you to a doctor who specializes in arthritis (rheumatologist) to confirm the diagnosis and for treatment.
What you can do
Write a list that includes:
- Detailed descriptions of your child's symptoms, including when they started and if anything makes them better or worse
- Information about medical problems your child has had in the past
- Information about the medical problems that tend to run in your family
- All the medications and dietary supplements your child takes
- Questions you want to ask the doctor
What to expect from your doctor
The doctor will initially take a detailed medical history. During the physical exam, your doctor may check for:
- Joint swelling, redness and warmth
- Rashes
- Signs of internal organ inflammation
- Eye inflammation
- Questions and answers about juvenile arthritis. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Juv_Arthritis/default.asp. Accessed Aug. 27, 2009.
- Miller ML, et al. Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. In: Kliegman RM, et al. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/157224368-3/881801128/1608/462.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2450-7..50156-0_3615. Accessed Aug. 31, 2009.
- Arthritis in children. American College of Rheumatology. http://www.rheumatology.org/public/factsheets/diseases_and_conditions/juvenilearthritis.asp. Accessed Sept. 1, 2009.
- Grom AA, et al. Immunopathogenesis of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 31, 2009.
- Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis: How is it diagnosed? Arthritis Foundation. http://www.arthritis.org/disease-center.php?disease_id=38&df=diagnosed. Accessed Aug. 31, 2009.
- Lehman TJ. Management of polyarticular onset juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 1, 2009.
- Juvenile arthritis. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00075. Accessed Sept. 1, 2009.
- Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis: Treatment options. Arthritis Foundation. http://www.arthritis.org/disease-center.php?disease_id=38&df=treatments. Accessed Sept. 1, 2009.
- JA Alliance. Arthritis Foundation. http://www.arthritis.org/ja-alliance-main.php. Accessed Sept. 1, 2009.
