Description

Len et al developed a tool for identifying a pediatric patient with chronic arthropathy who should be referred to a rheumatologist. The authors are from Escola Paulista de Medicina, Sao Paulo, Brazil.


 

Tool: 12 questions used to interview the patient's parents

 

Clusters of questions:

(1) swelling and other features of joint appearance

(2) pain and discomfort in joint

(3) difficulty or impairments in activities

 

NOTE: The leading numbers correspond to the item number of the original questionnaire in Table 3 (page 375). Questions 11 and 12 started "swelling or pain"; these were divided between the 3 clusters but summated as an OR for scoring..

 

Joint appearance:

(1) swelling of joints in past 7 days

(3) swelling of joints lasting > 30 days

(10) joint deformity

(11a) swelling after a febrile illness

(12a) swelling after an episode of skin redness

 

Pain or discomfort:

(2) pain in a joint during past 7 days

(4) pain in a joint lasting > 30 days

(8) awakening with complaints about joints

(11b) painful joint after a febrile illness

(12b) painful joint after an episode of skin redness

 

Difficulty or impairment:

(5) difficulty in moving joints of hand, wrists, knees, ankles, other

(6) been limping or walking in a different way

(7) unable to participate in an activity because of joints

(9) had to cancel a daily activity because of joint problem

 

total score =

= (number of items present)

 

Interpretation:

• minimum score: 0

• maximum score: 12

• A score >= 5 indicates a pediatric patient who should be referred to a rheumatologist.

 


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