◾Earned a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery from the prestigious University of Sharjah

◾Holds an esteemed Arab Board Certificate in Pediatrics

◾Achieved a Clinical Fellowship in Pediatric Rheumatology from Royal College of Physians (RCPI) in Ireland

◾Completed a Clinical Fellowship in Childhood Onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus from Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) in London

◾Acquired a Master's Degree in Quality and Safety Management in Healthcare

◾Certified by the American Board of Medical Quality with a Medical Quality Certificate

📍Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Rheumatic diseases in children are autoimmune conditions caused by an abnormal increase in immune system activity.

Watch the video ⬆️ to learn more.

Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes inflammation of the joints in children before the age of 16.

• Symptoms: Pain, swelling, or restriction of joint movement.
• Diagnosis: It is diagnosed through evaluation of the medical record, clinical examination, laboratory tests, and radiology.
• Treatment Goals: The aim of treatment is to relieve symptoms, prevent joint and bone damage, and improve joint mobility.

Joint pain due to hypermobility, also known as joint laxity, is a common condition in children under the age of 10, especially girls.

• Symptoms: Pain in the extremities and joints, particularly at the end of the day or at night.
• Diagnosis: It is diagnosed through evaluation of the medical record and clinical examination.
• Treatment Goals: The goal of treatment is to improve muscle strength, reduce pain, and maintain a normal level of activities for the child.

Joint pain caused by flat feet is a condition where the arches of the feet are flattened, leading to discomfort and pain in the joints, especially in children.

• Symptoms: Pain in the feet, ankles, and sometimes extending to the knees and hips, often worsening with prolonged standing or physical activity.
• Diagnosis: It is diagnosed through a clinical examination, medical history evaluation, and sometimes imaging tests like x-rays.
• Treatment Goals: The aim of treatment is to alleviate pain, improve foot function, and support normal development through methods such as physical therapy, orthotic devices, and proper footwear.

Joint and limb pain in children can be caused by excess weight, which places stress on the hips, knees, ankles, and feet.

• Symptoms: Pain and discomfort in the joints and limbs due to increased pressure from weight gain.
• Diagnosis: It is diagnosed through evaluation of the medical record and clinical examination.
• Treatment Goals: The aim of treatment is to reduce weight to alleviate pressure on the joints, strengthen muscles, improve joint mobility, reduce pain, and maintain a normal level of activities for the child.

Arthritis associated with Down syndrome is a chronic condition that causes joint inflammation in children with Down syndrome.

• Symptoms: Pain, swelling, or restricted joint movement. However, due to the nature of Down syndrome, these symptoms may not be obvious. Children may show signs such as unexplained irritability, sleep problems, changes in walking patterns, and general discomfort.
• Diagnosis: It is diagnosed through evaluation of the medical record, clinical examination, laboratory tests, and imaging.
• Treatment Goals: The aim of treatment is to relieve symptoms, prevent joint and bone damage, and improve joint mobility.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus is a chronic autoimmune disease that can affect multiple organs of the body, especially the skin, joints, blood, kidneys, and central nervous system. It is a non-contagious disease, meaning it cannot be transmitted from one person to another.

• Symptoms: The most common symptoms include non-specific complaints of fatigue, intermittent or persistent fever, and loss of weight and appetite. Over time, more specific symptoms may appear, such as skin rashes, ulcers inside the mouth or nose, hair loss, joint pain and swelling, and others.
• Severity: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus tends to be more severe in children than in adults, making early diagnosis and treatment crucial.
• Diagnosis: It is diagnosed through evaluation of the medical record, clinical examination, and laboratory tests, including antibody testing and imaging.
• Treatment Goals: Treatment aims to control symptoms and prevent complications that may lead to damage to organs and tissues. This is achieved using immunosuppressants, including cortisone medications.

Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is a hereditary genetic disease.

• Symptoms: Sufferers experience recurrent bouts of fever accompanied by chest or abdominal pain, joint pain and swelling, and sometimes a skin rash.
• Prevalence: It is more common among populations of the Mediterranean basin and the Middle East.
• Age Group Affected: FMF affects both children and adults, but it tends to be more severe in children.
• Diagnosis: It is diagnosed through evaluation of the medical record, clinical examination, laboratory tests, and genetic testing.
• Treatment Goals: The aim of treatment is to control symptoms, prevent or reduce the frequency of episodes, and prevent complications that may lead to organ damage, such as kidney failure.

Kawasaki disease is an immune disorder that causes inflammation of the blood vessels.

• Age Group Affected: It primarily affects children, especially those under the age of 5.
• Symptoms: The disease presents with a high fever of unknown cause lasting at least 5 days, accompanied by redness in the eyes, a skin rash, redness and cracking in the mouth and lips, swelling of the hands and feet, and enlarged lymph nodes in the neck. In some cases, the heart is affected, particularly the coronary arteries, which is one of the most serious symptoms due to the potential for long-term complications.
• Diagnosis: It is diagnosed through evaluation of the medical record, clinical examination, laboratory tests, and cardiac imaging.
• Treatment Goals: The aim of treatment is to control inflammation and reduce complications, especially those affecting the heart, through early diagnosis and prompt treatment initiation.

Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation of the small blood vessels in the skin, intestines, and kidneys.

• Prevalence: It is the most common vascular inflammatory disease in children aged 5 to 15 years. It is neither hereditary nor contagious.
• Symptoms: The main symptom is the appearance of a characteristic skin rash called "purpura," usually covering the lower extremities and buttocks. This may be accompanied by arthritis symptoms, gastrointestinal involvement (abdominal pain, bleeding, intestinal obstruction), or kidney involvement (the presence of blood or protein in the urine, and in rare cases, kidney failure).
• Diagnosis: HSP is diagnosed through evaluation of the medical record, clinical examination, laboratory tests, and imaging, if necessary.
• Treatment Goals: Treatment aims to control acute symptoms and reduce complications. Periodic follow-ups are essential to detect and treat any complications early.