Pediatric Rheumatology Online Journal → August 2003 → Epidemiology - International Studies → Abstract #182

EPIDEMIOLOGY OF PEDIATRIC RHEUMATIC DISEASES IN BRAZIL: MULTICENTRIC STUDY

M. F. F. Carvalho,¹ C. Magalhaes,² C. A. Silva,³ F. Sztajnbok,⁴ M. O. E. Hilario,⁵ E. N. Naka,⁶ V. Ferriani,³ S. K. F. Oliveira,⁴ L. C. L. Carvalho,¹ L. Paim,³ R. Santiago,³ E. Fuzii,¹ C. Len,⁵ M. T. Terreri,⁵ L. M. Carvalho,⁷ A. F. G. S. Marques,⁷ L. Campos,⁷ L. C. O. Vasques,⁷ U. B. W. Destri.⁷

¹Pediatrics, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Parana, Brazil; ²Hospital Base; ³USP; ⁴UERJ; ⁵EPM; ⁶UFMS; ⁷UFRJ

Introduction: The epidemiology of pediatric rheumatic diseases in Brazil is not really known up to the moment. Objective: Evaluate the prevalence of pediatric rheumatic diseases in Brazil. Methodology: A questionnaire with all pediatric rheumatic diseases was sent to the main Pediatric Rheumatic Clinics in Brazil, where were requested the number of patients attended in the period from August 1^st 2000 to August 1^st 2001. Results: In this period, 4266 children and adolescents were attended. Rheumatic fever was the major pediatric rheumatic disease (1151 patients). Rheumatic carditis was observed in 218 children and Chorea in 34. 23 had Chorea associated with carditis. In 780 children was diagnosed Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, poliarticular (50%), pauciarticular (40%) and systemic-onset disease (10%). Articular pain/growing pain was accomplished in 503 patients. Systemic lupus erythematosus was observed in 323 patients and 177 had Hipermobility Syndrome. 125 children had Dermatomyositis. Vasculitis included: Henoch-Schonlein Purpura (133), Kawasaki disease (28), Polyarteritis nodosa (24) and Idiopathic (9). 72 children presented localized scleroderma and 12, systemic. Five patients died, four of them from SLE complication and one from intestinal bloody in antiphospholipid syndrome.Conclusion: Except the rheumatic fever, that still is highly predominant in Brazil, the attended pathologies do not differ, in proportion, from the attended pathologies in others worldwide pediatric rheumatology centers. With epidemiological studies in pediatric rheumatic diseases, strategies can be traced in a short and in a long term, purposing a better life quality to these patients.