‘Children now getting more affected by rheumatic arthritis’

Bhubaneswar: Children are getting increasingly afflicted by rheumatoid arthritis these days but the problem can be addressed through proper diagnosis, tests and treatment, said Prof. Surjit Singh, director of the post-graduate Institute of Medical Research, Chandigarh.

Speaking at the two-day 13th conference of the Odisha branch of Indian Rheumatology Association at IMS and SUM Hospital here, Prof. Singh expressed concern over the development.

Prof. Bidyut Kumar Das, head of the department of rheumatology at SCB Medical College Hospital, Cuttack, said only 10 government run Medical Colleges Hospitals in India have full-fledged rheumatology departments but the facility for treating rheumatism in children is available in PGI, Chandigarh.

Prof. Das, who is scientific chairperson for the conference, said there was a great need for opening of rheumatology department in government-run medical College Hospitals.

He said the Covid pandemic had multiplied the misery of patients afflicted with rheumatoid arthritis.

Prof. Gangadhar Sahoo, pro-vice chancellor of SOA and dean of IMS and SUM Hospital, said the disease could be controlled by change of lifestyle.

The conference was also addressed by Dr. Pradipta Sekhar Patro, head of department of Immunology and Rheumatology at IMS and SUM Hospital and Organising Secretary of the conference, Dr. Bijay Kumar Mishra and Dr. Manoranjan Behera, president and secretary respectively of Odisha branch of IRA.