How should pediatric rheumatology be delivered?

In all forms of rheumatic disease in childhood, early and accurate diagnosis is essential. The aims of therapy in juvenile arthritis are pain relief and the preservation of joint function while maintaining normal growth and psychological development. As management is complex it will require a coordinated, multi-disciplinary team in which good communication between all members is a priority. Many families will need some form of counselling, whether it be from a social worker, the paediatrician involved, or a psychologist. This is particularly important in adolescence, whether the disease has commenced at this time or whether the child has gone into adolescence with a chronic illness.