Hyderabad: Contrary to popular belief, arthritis affects many children in the country, not just the elderly. Lack of specialists and awareness in the country causes several such cases to go undiagnosed, causing them major problems later in life, according to doctors.
Arthritis, which is not a single disease but a broad term that encompasses a number of joint-related conditions, can also affect children and is known as Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) or Childhood Arthritis. According to a 2022 study published in the Indian Journal of Rheumatology, an estimated 1.3 million (13 lakh) children in India suffer from JIA, with the global prevalence ranging from 0.7 to 1.0 per 1,000 children.
According to Dr. Mohammad Irfan, senior consultant rheumatologist at Medicover Hospitals, childhood arthritis should not be taken lightly because it can cause permanent joint damage, interfere with the child's bone growth, and result in loss of joint function if not treated on time.
While there is no complete cure for these conditions, they can be brought under control and medication can be reduced or even stopped in some cases. However, according to Dr. Irfan, in developing countries such as India, cases are frequently reported and diagnosed only after the disease has progressed and the joint has been damaged.
"This is why, more younger patients (even those in their 20s and 30s) are undergoing joint replacement surgeries because they have end-stage arthritis," he added. Dr Sarath Chandra Mouli, clinical director, Department of Rheumatology, KIMS Hospitals, says the hospital receives two to three cases of childhood arthritis each day. He claims that there is a severe shortage of paediatric rheumatology experts who can effectively diagnose these cases.
There are probably less than 50 paediatric rheumatology specialists in the country, and this shortage often results in incorrect diagnosis and treatment, he said.
“There is also only one training centre in India for both adult and paediatric rheumatology, in Chandigarh, from which only three specialists graduate each year. There is no rheumatology department either in Telangana or AP medical colleges, private or government. We need more specialists and awareness,” he added.
