Wadia Hospital Organizes Fun-filled Activities For Children To Create Awareness
Mumbai: Rheumatic diseases in children is amongst the major causes of chronic illnesses in children and a number of diseases under this umbrella can affect the young joints. In this group of diseases, juvenile idiopathic arthritis is one of the commonest disease inflicting children & affecting their joints.
To create awareness about existence of rheumatic disease in children “World Young Rheumatic Disease Day” is observed on 18th March. On the eve of this day BJWHC organized an interactive session for kids and parents of juvenile arthritis. There was also a drawing competition amongst the kids with arthritis. The children enjoyed their afternoon and were distributed gifts as well.
Arthritis in children also known as Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) causes painful joints and is associated with swelling or stiffness in the joints that hinder their daily activities. To help children with arthritis improve their quality of life, Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital for Children has a devoted department. “Simply put, a child suffering from joint issues faces a painful, a swollen and a stiff joint that hinders their daily activities. If not identified and treated in time, these joint problems can eventually result in a significant long-term disability. They not only disturb the child’s physical and psychological growth, but also affects their near and dear ones. Paediatric Rheumatology is a specialized branch of Pediatrics that deals with these rheumatological issues in children. BJWHC is amongst a handful of institutes in India that provide services for paediatric rheumatology,” said Dr. Sikha Agarwal, the specialist pediatric rheumatologist at Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital for Children.
Dr Agarwal added, “The rheumatology department at BJWHC is running for the last three years and continues to work through the pandemic catering to a variety of patients. It treats patients with arthritis, autoimmune diseases, Kawasaki disease, and many more. This specialized OPD runs once a week with OPD footfalls of approximately 200 patients per month from different states of our country. We have brought together a few patients of juvenile idiopathic arthritis on the occasion of World Young Rheumatic disease Day with a positive intent. We wish to encourage children and their parents to share their ups and downs and inspire others by their success stories. This is an opportunity to create awareness about the existence of such varied rheumatological diseases affecting children and that such conditions can be treated in time so as to prevent long term complications.”
I take this opportunity to pass on the message that kids can get arthritis too! Often, such joint pains are brushed apart as a pain or swelling following trauma. We should not disregard any joint complaints in children and institute early and appropriate medical treatment.” said Dr. Sikha Agarwal.
“As an institute, we are dedicated to providing good health of every child through medical services. We should collectively work towards providing every possible specialised service required for an ill child” concluded Dr Minnie Bodhanwala, CEO Of Wadia Hospital.
