Major study launched to help youngsters with arthritis
DOCTORS in Newcastle are setting up a major, two-year study to investigate why children who suffer from arthritis are more at risks of tooth decay and gum disease than other youngsters.
Children attending the Juvenile Chronic Arthritis Clinic at the Royal Victoria Infirmary and the Young Adult Clinic at the Freeman Hospital will take part in the £60,000 study, which is being funded by a research grant from leading medical and research charity The Arthritis Research Campaign.
Around 500 children in the North East have juvenile chronic arthritis. Those who are worst affected suffer from pain, swelling, stiffness, loss of movement and difficulty in performing daily tasks such as eating, getting dressed and walking.
"There are several possible reasons why children with juvenile chronic arthritis are more at risk of tooth decay and gum disease,"said Dr Helen Foster, consultant rheumatologist at the Freeman Hospital.
"Arthritis of the hand can lead to difficulty in holding and using a toothbrush, and youngsters may problems in opening their mouths and reaching their teeth, especially the back ones."
There are other factors too. Some of the medicines used to treat JCA may have an effect on tooth decay, and young JCA sufferers' saliva may be less able to protect teeth. Children may have problems getting to a dentist because dental care becomes less of priority when a child is suffering from arthritis, added Dr Foster.
"The aim of our study is to determine the degree of oral health in patients of all ages with JCA, and investigate the relative influences of all the possible risk factors for tooth decay and gum disease," she explained. "We aim to identify areas that can be improved, and propose ways of improving the care of children with JCA."
The study will involve a check-up by a children's dentist, who will recommend treatment if necessary. There will also be an assessment by an occupational therapist to assess the functioning of the joints affected by arthritis, and a series of questionnaires to complete.
Dr Foster said she hoped the study would lead to a strategy to improve dental care, which could be integrated into the multi-disciplinary management of the disease.
"This study has been generously supported by the ARC, and hopefully through this work the awareness of the problems of children with JCA can be increased among health professionals, patients, their families and the general public,"she added.
