Overview of Pediatric Rheumatology

This article highlights the generalized impact of pediatric rheumatic disease including disturbed growth and development, negative psychosocial implications, altered family dynamics, and risk of morbidities in adulthood. Current research efforts are also discussed. A review of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) includes diagnostic and classification criteria, incidence and prevalence data, common symptoms, disease-specific evaluation, disease activity measurements, brief review of treatment, and common JIA mimickers. A review of scleroderma includes similar components with a focus on localized scleroderma, the form more common in children.