Rheumatologist...The Arthritis
Buster
Who is a rheumatologist?
A rheumatologist is a medical doctor who specializes in
the non-surgical treatment
of
rheumatic illnesses, especially arthritis.
Rheumatologists have special interests in unexplained rash,
fever,
arthritis, anemia, weakness, weight loss, fatigue, joint or
muscle
pain, autoimmune disease, and anorexia. They often serve
as
consultants, acting like detectives for other doctors.
Rheumatologists have particular skills in the evaluation
of the
over 100 forms of arthritis, and have special interest in
rheumatoid
arthritis, spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, systemic lupus
erythematosus, antiphospholipid syndrome, Still disease,
dermatomyositis, Sjogren's syndrome, vasculitis,
scleroderma, mixed
connective tissue disease, sarcoidosis, Lyme disease,
osteomyelitis,
osteoarthritis, back pain, gout, pseudogout, relapsing polychondritis,
Henoch-
Schonlein purpura, serum sickness, reactive arthritis,
Kawasaki
disease, fibromyalgia, erythromelalgia, Raynaud's disease,
growing
pains, iritis, osteoporosis, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, and
others.
Classical adult rheumatology training
includes four years of medical school, one year of
internship in internal medicine, two years of internal
medicine residency, and two years of rheumatology
fellowship. There is a subspecialty board for rheumatology
certification, offered by the American Board of Internal
Medicine, which
can provide board certification to approved
rheumatologists.
Pediatric rheumatologists are physicians who specialize
in providing comprehensive care to children (as well as
their families) with rheumatic diseases, especially
arthritis.
Pediatric rheumatologists are pediatricians who have
completed an additional 2-3 years of specialized training
in pediatric rheumatology and are usually board-certified
in pediatric rheumatology.
Last Editorial Review: 12/30/2004
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