Exterior photo of the UVM Medical Center entrance.

Children's Specialty Center

 (802) 847-8742

111 Colchester Avenue
Burlington, VT 05401-1473

Monday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

If your child has joint, muscle or bone pain, symptoms of arthritis or an autoimmune disorder, you will find a team of experienced, caring specialists ready to help at The University of Vermont Children's Hospital in Burlington, VT.

Pediatric Rheumatology: What You Need to Know

Teamwork

We provide the full range of care for rheumatic and inflammatory disorders, including juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and connective tissue diseases such as lupus and dermatomyositis.

Experienced, Trusted Expertise

Our clinicians are specially trained in caring for children and adolescents with rheumatological conditions, and knowledgeable of the latest research and developments in the field. As a university hospital, we offer patients the most recent treatments and therapies to treat their condition.

Personalized Approach

We are committed to a personalized, family-centered approach. Our highly trained staff works collaboratively with other pediatric specialists, physical therapists, social workers and others to provide all the care your child needs as conveniently as possible.

What is Pediatric Rheumatology?

If your child has joint, muscle or bone pain, symptoms of arthritis or an autoimmune disorder, you will find a team of experienced, caring specialists ready to help at the The University of Vermont Children's Hospital. Some of the more common conditions we treat include:

Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) is the most common type of arthritis affecting children 16 or younger. It causes joint pain, inflammation and stiffness. Some children may have juvenile arthritis symptoms that last only a few months, while others may have life-long symptoms. Some forms of JRA can cause serious health problems, such as high fevers, growth complications and eye inflammation.

Lupus
Lupus, a connective tissue disease, is a condition that involves periodic episodes of inflammation and damage to joints, tendons and other connective tissues, as well as organs such as the heart, lungs, blood vessels, brain, kidneys and skin.

The disease affects each person differently. Lupus symptoms can range from mild to life-threatening. Lupus affects women and girls much more than men and usually occurs in children ages 15 or older. Children with lupus also may suffer from kidney damage.

Dermatomyositis
Dermatomyositis is an inflammatory disease known to cause muscle weakness and a specific type of skin rash. It affects more women than men and can occur at any age, most commonly in the late 40s to early 60s. It usually affects children between 5 and 15 years of age. Symptoms of juvenile dermatomyositis often develop gradually, over weeks or months. People with dermatomyositis also experience periods of remission where the symptoms improve.

Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain
Children may develop chronic musculoskeletal pain syndromes that interfere with their ability to participate in normal activities. A pediatric rheumatologist may be involved in the evaluation of children with chronic pain symptoms. Medical and non-medical therapies are available to help reduce chronic pain.

Unexplained Fevers
A fever occurs when the body temperature rises above its normal range. Children may tolerate fevers well, but long-lasting fevers or other symptoms in addition to the fever may be cause for concern. If a source of the fever cannot be determined, it is considered an unexplained fever, or a fever of unknown origin. These are fevers that often occur on a regular basis for a certain period of time. Unexplained fever is a common condition affecting children and adolescents with certain rheumatic diseases.

Other Rheumatic and Inflammatory Conditions We Treat

  • Acute rheumatic fever
  • Behcet's disease
  • Benign musculoskeletal pain syndromes
  • Disorders of collagen and connective tissue
  • Henoch-Schonlein Purpura
  • Juvenile dermatomyositis and polymyositis
  • Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
  • Kawasaki disease
  • Lyme arthritis
  • Mixed connective tissue disease
  • Overuse syndromes
  • Psoriatic arthritis
  • Raynaud's syndrome
  • Recurrent fever without diagnosis
  • Reflex neurovascular dystrophy
  • Scleroderma
  • Septic arthritis
  • Sjogren's syndrome
  • Spondyloarthropathies
  • Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
  • Vasculitic disorders
  • Wegener's granulomatosis

Find a UVM Medical Center physician or call 802-847-8200.

Matthew C. Hollander, MD
Pediatric Rheumatology