Rheumatology

Conditions we treat 

The Paediatric Rheumatology department specialises in diagnosing and managing the full spectrum of Rheumatological conditions including:

• Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis and other forms of inflammatory arthritis
• Autoimmune connective tissue diseases and Vasculitis
  • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (Lupus)
  • Juvenile Dermatomyositis or Polymyositis
  • Mixed Connective Tissue Disease
  • Systemic Scleroderma
  • Localised Scleroderma/Morphoea
  • Sjogren’s syndrome
  • Vasculitis
• Periodic fever syndromes and autoinflammatory diseases
  • PFAPA Syndrome
  • Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) and other inherited periodic fever syndromes
  • Non-infectious osteomyelitis
  • Behcet’s disease

Research
The Rheumatology Department is actively involved in contributing to local, national and international research projects, including disease registries and clinical trials.

Teaching
We are committed to enhancing the understanding of rheumatic diseases and conditions for Monash University medical students, junior doctors training to be paediatricians, paediatric rheumatology trainees as well as other hospital staff and GPs.

Useful web links

• www.rch.org.au/rheumatology
• www.arthritisaustralia.com.au
• muscha.org
• www.jafa.org.au
• www.printo.it
• www.reachout.com
• www.rheumatology.org.au

Contacts

Patients and families may contact the department via:

Phone: (03) 8572 3004 (option 5) appointment enquiries only
Nurse: (03) 8572 3858
Same Day Unit: (03) 8572 3700 (for information regarding booked and confirmed joint injections)
Email: paediatric.rheumatology@monashhealth.org (all general enquiries)

Rheumatology Specialist Consulting Services 

General Paediatric Rheumatology Clinic

The general Paediatric Rheumatology Clinic assesses paediatric patients presenting with musculoskeletal symptoms for assessment and management. This clinic is staffed by Paediatric Rheumatologists, Paediatric Rheumatology Clinical Nurse Consultant, physiotherapist and Junior Medical Staff in training. This clinic runs every Monday between 9am and 12:30pm in the Specialist Consulting 1 area of Monash Children’s Hospital. There is an additional Wednesday morning General Paediatric Rheumatology clinic on alternate weeks from 9am to 12:30pm.

Lupus and Vasculitis Clinic and General Rheumatology Clinic

The Lupus and Vasculitis Clinic offers multidisciplinary medical care with combined paediatric Rheumatology and Nephrology staff. This clinic runs concurrently with a general Paediatric Rheumatology clinic on alternate Fridays from 1.30-5pm.

Paediatric Rheumatology Musculoskeletal Assessment Clinic

The Musculoskeletal assessment Clinic is staffed by a Consultant Paediatric Rheumatologist, Paediatric Physiotherapist, Clinical Nurse Consultant and Rheumatology doctors in training. This clinic operates weekly on Tuesday morning between 9:00am and 12:30pm.

Joint Injection Session

On alternate Friday mornings, patients who require intra-articular steroid injections are admitted to the Same Day Unit for this procedure. Some younger patients may require a general anaesthetic for this procedure and other paediatric patients use a combination of local anaesthetic and nitrous oxide (laughing gas). Our specialist physiotherapists and occupational therapists are also available for consultation and advice as required.

Drug Infusions

Those patients requiring regular medication infusions are admitted to the Same Day Unit at Monash Children’s Hospital.

Transitioning to adult care

Patients requiring ongoing care beyond childhood are typically transitioned to care with an adult rheumatologist or their General Practitioner after year 12. Since this is often a time of significant change for young people, there is flexibility of timing to ensure optimal outcomes. Our department aims to discuss and plan the process of transition years prior to actual transfer of care in order to maximise transition readiness.

Referrals

Secure eReferral by HealthLink is now our preferred method of referral.

Find up-to-date information about how to send a referral to Monash Health Specialist Consulting Clinics on the eReferrals page on our website.

To refer a patient, please review the referral guidelines prior to contacting the Monash Children’s Hospital Specialist Consulting team:

Paediatric Rheumatology Referral Guidelines: click here

Phone: (03) 8572 3004

For URGENT matters the Paediatric Rheumatology Advanced Training Registrar or Resident can be contacted by calling the Monash Health Switchboard on (03) 9594 6666.

If a doctor wishes to contact the team please advise the Monash Health switchboard that you are a doctor and you will be connected through. Consultant staff are available on call.