If your child is experiencing persistent joint pain, unexplained joint swelling, or ongoing muscle pain, our pediatric rheumatologists are here to provide relief for autoimmune diseases. Our goal is to get kids back to being kids and having fun with less pain.
Serving San Bernardino and Riverside counties, we offer diagnostic tests and treatment for children and young adults. We accept new referrals up to age 18 and see established patients up to age 21. We also provide referrals and transition plans for ongoing care into adulthood.
Why Choose Us For Your Child’s Rheumatological Care
- Expert treatment: Your child’s care team includes rheumatologists and specialists with the highest level of expertise to give your child the best outcome possible.
- Compassionate care: Your child’s well-being is our calling. We treat each child with dignity, respect, and understanding. We’re here to help you through the process every step of the way, from scheduling your child’s first appointment to determining treatment and providing ongoing support.
- Convenient scheduling: Most of our expert physicians are in one location, making it easier to schedule all your visits on the same day — even between other departments at our Children’s Hospital.
- Whole person care: Rheumatic diseases often involve multiple systems within the body. We’re committed to looking at your child as a whole person throughout diagnosis and treatment, paying attention to factors like stress, sleep, and diet.
Conditions We Treat
We provide treatment for children with autoimmune diseases of the joints and muscles — also known as rheumatic autoimmune diseases. An autoimmune disease occurs when a person’s body creates antibodies that attack the body’s own tissue, resulting in uncontrolled inflammation (swelling). In many cases, that inflammation causes pain, stiffness, and tissue damage. While most of these conditions cannot be cured, they can be managed to prevent further damage. We treat children with the following conditions and symptoms:
- Juvenile idiopathic arthritis, which causes limited range of motion and joint pain, swelling, and stiffness.
- Lupus, a chronic (ongoing) condition causing inflammation anywhere in the body. Lupus can range from mild to life-threatening, and is usually more severe in children.
- Dermatomyositis, a rare condition affecting the skin, muscles, and small blood vessels, often causing rashes and muscle weakness.
- Vasculitis, inflammation of blood vessels affecting a diverse range of organs
- Chronic pain
What to Expect
When it comes to rheumatic autoimmune diseases, earlier treatment can mean a better outcome for your child. With proper treatment, the majority of our patients see a decrease in pain and normalization in mobility.
Data reports that over three-quarters of juvenile arthritis patients are able to achieve normal joint function within two years. In addition, about two-thirds of juvenile arthritis patients may be able to come off medications after two years of remission (no disease activity on medications). As our treatments and therapies continue to improve, these numbers get better every few years.