India
healthysoch.com
Chandigarh, August 13, 2019 :
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) – Section on Rheumatology, as part of the national “Choosing Wisely” campaign, has released a list of tests and procedures commonly used to treat rheumatologic diseases that should be questioned by patients and physicians to ensure they are evidence-based and necessary.
The five list items are
- Do not prescribe opioids for chronic pain management in patients with autoimmune disease.
- Antinuclear antibody (ANA) and other autoantibody testing should not be ordered on a child unless there is strong suspicion or specific signs of autoimmune disease.
- Do not test for Lyme disease as a cause of musculoskeletal symptoms without an exposure history or appropriate exam findings.
- Do not send periodic fever syndrome genetic panels prior to infectious and oncologic workup or in a patient without clear evidence of recurrent fever.
- Do not order rheumatoid factor alone, or as part of a “panel” or “cascade” in children to evaluate for rheumatologic disease such as juvenile idiopathic arthritis due to musculoskeletal complaints. Do not let laboratory results guide referral.
(Source: American Academy of Pediatrics)
Author : Dr KK Aggarwal , Padma Shri Awardee