Patterns of Arthritis in Children Attending Assiut University Hospital

Abstract

The study was carried out on 105 children with arthritis attending to Assiut University hospital, department of medicine and rheumatology clinic in the period between July 2000 to June 2001.

The age of the studied patients ranged from 5 to 16 years with a mean of 13.3 years. All patients were subjected to thorough clinical history and examination, including examination of the joint (number of affected joints, score of pain, joint swelling and /or deformity).

The following investigations were done to each of studied patients which include : • ESR, CRP, ASOT and full blood count.

• Serum rheumatoid factor, ANF and LE cells.

• Urine analysis.

• X-ray to the affected joints.

• ECG and echocardiography .

The results of the study showed that rheumatic fever is still the most common cause of arthritis in our locality as it has been diagnosed in fifty five patients out of 105 (52.4%). The next common is JCA which has been found in 32 patients (30.4%) . Reactive arthritis was found in 11 patients (10.5%) and SLE was diagnosed in only 7 patients (6.7%).

The group of JCA was classified into 3 types, systemic onset type, 8 patients (25%), polyarticular type, I 0 patients(31.2%) (4 patients with early onset polyarticular subtype and 6 patients with late onset polyarticular subtype) and paueiarticular type, 14 patients (43.7%)