Parent's Guide to Rheumatic Diseases in Children

For a child with arthritis or a related condition, lack of knowledge on the part of the parents is one of the biggest obstacles to recovery. Parents do not always know how to interpret the complaints voiced by their children and this is compounded by the inexperience of physicians, who rarely treat children with these ailments. In this marvelously down-to-earth guide, Dr. Thomas Lehman--the head of one of the leading pediatric rheumatology programs in the world--offers a gold mine of expert advice that is invaluable both for parents whose children have rheumatic disorders and for parents of children with complaints, discomfort, or disability who are not getting the answers they need from their physician. Using simple analogies and illustrative anecdotes to illuminate hard-to-grasp concepts, Dr. Lehman helps parents interpret their child's complaints and to determine whether medical attention is needed. Even more important, the book explains to parents how to follow through with a physician and make sure their child receives the appropriate tests, the proper diagnosis, and ultimately, the best care possible. The book explains to parents what symptoms to look for, what questions to ask, and what to expect when treatment begins. It sheds light on a wide range of rheumatic disorders--including Juvenile Arthritis, Lyme Disease, Lupus, Kawasaki Disease, Fibromyalgia, and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome--and it addresses such crucial topics as drug safety, the potential risks to children posed by medications, health insurance problems, the difficulty of family life when a child has a chronic disease, and much more. The only book on this subject currently available, A Parent's Guide to Rheumatic Diseases in Children captures the expertise of a dedicated physician with over thirty years of hands-on experience helping children lead normal happy lives. It will help you to ensure that your child achieves the best possible outcome.

Thomas J. A. Lehman, M.D. is Chief of the Division of Pediatric Rheumatology and Attending Physician and Senior Scientist at the Hospital for Special Surgery, and Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at Weill Medical College of Cornell University. Dr. Lehman is an internationally recognized expert in the rheumatic diseases of childhood, a fellow of both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Rheumatology and a member of the New York Academy of Medicine. He is consistently included in New York magazine's annual "Best Doctors" issue.

Part I: My Child Complains of Pain
1: Growing Pains?
2: Figuring Out What's Wrong
3: Common Causes of Pain
4: The Child Who Hurts All Over
Part II: The Rheumatic Diseases and Related Conditions
5: Juvenile Arthritis
6: Uveitis: Eye Complications of Juvenile Arthritis and Related Conditions
7: Spondyloarthropathies: Enthesitis-associated Arthritis
8: Lyme Disease
9: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
10: Mixed Connective Tissue Disease
11: Sjogren's Syndrome
12: Raynaud's Phenomenon
13: Scleroderma
14: Dermatomyositis and Polymyositis
15: Kawasaki Disease
16: Benign Hypermobile Joint Syndrome and Ehlers Dahnlos Syndrome
17: Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
18: Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy
19: Oseoporosis and Osteopenia
Part III: Living with a Child Who Has a Chronic Condition
20: Medications and Immunizations
21: Alternative Medicine: Vitamins, Supplements, and Other Treatments
22: Understanding Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests
23: Reconstructive Surgery
24: Family Issues
25: Getting the Best Results for Your Child