Clinico-epidemiological Profile of Pediatric Rheumatology Disorders in Eastern India

Data on rheumatological disorders in children from developing countries like India are scarce. Hence, this study aimed to understand the clinical and epidemiological profile of rheumatological disorders in children as this can help organize comprehensive evidence-based health care services.

A retrospective hospital-based study was designed in pediatric rheumatology clinic of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, India, from January 2015 to December 2016. Clinical and laboratory findings and response to therapy of all children with rheumatological disorders were evaluated.

A total of 60 children with various rheumatological disorders were included in the study. Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) was the most common pediatric rheumatology disorder observed, and polyarticular JIA was the predominate subtype observed in our patients. The mean age of disease onset was 9.1 ± 3.6 years (age range: 1-16 years). Methotrexate was the most common disease modifying antirheumatic drug used. None of the children received newer biological agents due to financial constraints. The use of alternative medicine was observed in 10% of cases.

The clinical and epidemiological profile of children with rheumatological disorders in our patient group was different from the European countries and Western world. There is a need for introspecting the lack of using biological agents and its potential impact in managing JIA in our patient group.