Is it Rheum? A Clinical Approach to Identifying Rheumatologic Disease

Illustrating with case examples, pediatric rheumatologist Nicole Ling, MD, MAS, shows pediatricians how to evaluate kids presenting with a swollen or painful joint – and explains why these aren’t always the same thing. She presents images of red flags, describes physical exam techniques and imaging options, explores the subtleties of lab results, and lays out how to reach a diagnosis of juvenile idiopathic arthritis – the most common childhood arthritis. Learn which treatments to start and how to do it safely when patients are waiting to see a specialist.

Learning Objectives:

• Differentiate clinical characteristics favoring arthritis vs arthralgia.

• Develop a basic approach to evaluating patients with possible joint swelling.

• Recognize some mimics of rheumatologic conditions.