Skip to main content

Pediatric Autoimmune Disease & Rheumatology

young children running on the playground

At UVA Health Children's, we provide care for infants, children, and teens with rheumatic diseases. Rheumatic and autoimmune diseases occur when your immune system starts to attack your body's healthy cells, tissues, and organs.

Although autoimmune disease is rare in children, many conditions have similar symptoms and diagnosis can be challenging.  

Symptoms of Autoimmune Diseases

Your child may experience vague symptoms, including:

  • Tiredness/fatigue
  • Long-term or repeated fevers
  • Rashes
  • Weight loss
  • Joint swelling, stiffness or pain

For the most part, autoimmune diseases are chronic and need lifelong monitoring and care. But medication can help reduce or stop the damage caused by some diseases. Our physicians can help your child transition from pediatric care to adult care.

Autoimmune Conditions We Treat

These are just some of the pediatric autoimmune diseases that we see frequently.

  • Ankylosing Spondylitis
  • Celiac Disease
  • Chronic Recurrent Multifocal Osteomyelitis/ Chronic Nonbacterial Osteomyelitis
  • Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis
  • Graves' Disease (hyperthyroidism)
  • Juvenile Dermatomyositis
  • Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • Periodic Fever Syndromes
  • Psoriatic Arthritis
  • Sarcoidosis
  • Scleroderma
  • Sjorgen's Syndrome
  • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
  • Type 1 Diabetes
  • Uveitis

Quick Diagnosis Puts Life Back on Track

When Lauren felt bad enough to skip swim practice, her mom thought it was a fluke. But then she began to suffer joint pain, and even struggled to breathe. She was brought to UVA Health Children's and diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease. And with the treatment she needs, she can thrive.