The average age of arthritis incidence in the Sverdlovsk Region is decreasing. Some rheumatic ailments, which can often lead to a fatal outcome, are recognized even in infants. However, according to Adelina Rakhimyanova, the chief freelance child rheumatologist of the Sverdlovsk region, such statistics should not be feared. Medicine in this plan has stepped far ahead and allows to achieve full recovery. The main thing is to recognize the disease in time.

About new super-modern genetically engineered drugs for millions of rubles, the serious consequences of neglected diseases and the increase in the number of people suffering from arthritis, in an interview with JustMedia. ru with Adeline Rahimyanova.

-Adelina Mihaylovna, what rheumatic diseases are present today in patients more often and how much they are curable?.

-The most common disease is juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, in which the joints are affected. There is a variant of the JRA, which refers to orphan (life-threatening) conditions, which can lead to serious consequences. Therefore, timely diagnosis of the disease, the appointment of therapy to preserve the quality of life of the patient.

-Diseases are getting younger. Has the average age of the incidence of rheumatic ailments changed?.

-A more often the debut of the disease falls on 3-5 years. There are cases when this occurs earlier. So, in our region, the earliest case of the onset of the manifestation of a systemic version of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis was noted in a baby at the age of 5.5 months. These are very complex diseases, they share a common clinic with severe infectious and sometimes even cancer diseases. An important role is played by early detection of symptoms and referral to a specialist.

-How is the treatment for rheumatic diseases?.

-Therapia depends on the variant and severity of the course of the disease. When the first symptoms appear, patients turn to the pediatrician at their place of residence. There primary diagnostics are carried out, infectious diseases are excluded, which can be accompanied by the involvement of joints in the process. Symptomatic therapy is prescribed. Later, when the symptomatology persists and any cause of this condition is not revealed, the patient is sent to a specialized department for further examination and treatment.

Today, the diagnosis of rheumatic fever is not a verdict. In the arsenal of a doctor-rheumatologist, including the head of the CSTO "CSTO-1", there is a wide arsenal of medicines, including genetically engineered biological preparations used in the world.

Heavy patients are treated in a 24-hour hospital. In a day hospital, patients with a confirmed diagnosis and a prescribed course of treatment. In the last children come with a certain interval, so that a professional rheumatologist looked at them, conducted examinations and confirmed or adjusted the treatment. An important stage of treatment is rehabilitation.

The prognosis of the disease is half dependent on drug therapy and half - on rehabilitation, the patient and his parents. After treatment in the walls of the hospital, the child leaves home and leads a normal lifestyle, but in no case should he forget about exercises.

-Who is dealing with patients in your ward?.

-We have a gym and instructors. We want rehabilitation and gymnastics to become a standard of behavior for them. If the patient does not do the exercises, complete success will not be achieved. Therefore, rely only on medicines can not, because there is not a single miracle pill that immediately puts on its feet. It is necessary that physical culture in our patients become a standard of behavior.

-Does the complex of physical exercises for children and adults?.

- The gymnastics depends on what joints are affected and what functional insufficiency at this stage of the disease. And the age of the patient on the range of exercises is not significantly affected.

-Did the number of patients in the CSTO number 1 increase compared to previous years?.

-For a year in a round-the-clock hospital 300 patients were observed, 700 more children were treated at a day hospital. Compared with previous years, this is certainly a little more.

- What is the reason for the increase in the number of cases?.

- Many factors make their mark on this. Many factors make their mark on this, including an increase in the detectability of this category of patients already in the early stages. Rheumatic diseases are autoimmune diseases. They can run: infection, stress or injury.

-How much has science advanced in recent years in studying rheumatic diseases?.

-At about 20 years ago in the arsenal of treatment of patients with rheumatic diseases were two drugs: methotrexate and hormones. This therapy did not always control the activity of the inflammatory process, could not hold the state of remission for a long period of time. Then came the era of genetic engineering biological therapy. Patients have a long-term remission, lead an active lifestyle, virtually no different from peers. At the present time, diagnostics is already done at the genetic level, and in the future, probably, the therapy will change, and once the need and drug therapy will disappear.

- How expensive is this treatment?.

- These drugs, of course, are much more expensive than previous ones. The cost of medicines sometimes reach up to one and a half million rubles and more. However, the Ministry of Health of the Sverdlovsk region has always provided patients with the necessary drugs. And there have never been any interruptions or problems with the supply of medicines. Due to this, patients are early in remission. Science goes further, and it is quite possible that in the near future incurable diseases will not occur. Already today, medicine allows people on their own feet to enter adulthood. For example, we had one patient who was brought from a plane in a wheelchair with a fracture of the spine and a very serious course of the disease. However, when we turned him back at the age of 18, he already stood in sparring in the boxing ring and played volleyball.