Social-Pediatric Problems Arising From the Rheumatics in Childhood

Abstract

1) The available data about the rheumatics in children and young people in this country are anything but sufficient or adequate, hence the need for a systematic study of the problem on a broader basis and with uniform criteria;

2) In spite of the inadequacy of the data available, a conclusion can nevertheless be drawn — if only on the basis of the data supplied in this paper — which points to the frequent occurrence of the disease, its high rate of mortality, and subsequent disablement, as well as to the heavy expenditure of money and other costly material which its treatment initials;

3) Consequently, a change is called for in the general attitude to and conception of the rheumatics, i. e. a special emphasis should be laid on the sodal-pediatric aspect of the rheumatics in childhood, the significance of which is no less great than that of, e. g., poliomyelitis, and the study of problems of the latter disease have been proceeding in our country on a basis much broader than the one set up for dealing with rheumatic diseases in children and young people;

4) For a successful solution of the problems arising from the rheumatics in children and young people in this country at is suggested that centres should be established in each of our republics, where the relevant data could be collected, the first onset of the disease checked and treated, and prophylactic measures taken against its recurrence, and, above all, rehabilitation methods applied in the management of crippled children. finally, the centres would provide training courses for doctors visiting out-patients in country places and villages, and also give Instructions and advice to polyclinics and similar institutions on modem methods of therapy of rheumatic diseases and prophylactic measures against heart disablement, the occurrence and seriousness of which in young children is known to be in inverse proportion to their age.