Pediatric Rheumatologist
Find a pediatric rheumatologist at Salem Hospital.
North Shore families seeking a pediatric rheumatologist will find exceptional physicians offering comprehensive care at Salem Hospital, a member of Mass General Brigham. Pediatric rheumatologists diagnose and treat a variety of rheumatic conditions, including juvenile arthritis and other diffuse connective tissue diseases and musculoskeletal pain problems experienced by infants, children and adolescents. Salem Hospital pediatric rheumatologists bring a multidisciplinary approach to pediatric care, working closely with other physicians of the North Shore, including physical therapy specialists and orthopedic surgeons. Find a pediatric primary care physician or other North Shore doctor.
A range of rheumatic disorders are treated by a Salem Hospital pediatric rheumatologist.
- Juvenile arthritis - an umbrella term that describes many autoimmune and inflammatory conditions that may develop in children 16 years old and younger, and that can destroy bones, joints, muscles, cartilage and other connective tissues, causing pain and hampering physical movement.
- Fevers - inflammatory diseases that may develop after a Streptococcus pyogenes infection.
- Fibromyalgia - a syndrome involving long-term pain and tenderness in joints, tendons, muscles and other soft tissues throughout the body.
- Lyme disease - a bacterial infection spread through tick bites.
- Systemic lupus erythematosus - a systemic autoimmune disease that results in inflammation and tissue damage and can affect any part of the body.
- Dermatomyositis - a connective tissue disease characterized by inflammation of the muscles the skin.
- Other musculoskeletal pain problems of childhood.
Help your pediatric rheumatologist diagnose your child's condition.
It's often difficult for a pediatric rheumatologist to diagnose pediatric arthritis and other rheumatic diseases. The symptoms are quite similar to other diseases and many children are too young to fully describe the difficulty and pain they are experiencing. Your observations of your child's behavior and complaints will be helpful in aiding the rheumatologist during diagnosis.
You rheumatologist may recommend a number of laboratory tests, imaging tests, or other pediatric procedures to help diagnose the condition. These include:
- Blood work to measure levels of creatinine, complement, antibodies, Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, hematocrit, rheumatoid factor, white blood cells, antinuclear antibodies, and a complete blood count to measure the size, number, and maturity of different blood cells in a specific volume of blood.
- Tests to examine the synovial fluid in the joints.
- Urinalysis to test the urine for protein, red blood cells, white blood cells or casts.
- Imaging tests, including X-rays, CT scans and MRI exams to review images of the internal tissues, bones and organs.
- Arthroscopy – using a microscopic camera to inspect the inside of a joint and to assess, repair or reconstruct tissues within and around the joint.
- Bond densitometry: an imaging study to measure bone density.
