EDITORIAL IRA

Dear All

Here’s wishing you a glorious Diwali. We have invited applications for the post of editor of the newsletter and also the Manual of Rheumatology. For more last dates and deadlines for applications and also to know about awardees for this year, please go through the Secretary’s ‘From the IRA’ column. The first-ever South Asia Rheumatology Forum was held at Kathmandu last month. It is a new initiative, and we are proud to say, by us, the IRA and our president.

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From the IRA

Indo-UK Rheumatology Forum Traveling Fellowship

Objective: To fund a promising young rheumatologist to attend an international rheumatology conference: BSR or EULAR The recipient of the fellowship is encouraged to spend some time in one or more rheumatology units in the UK to gain further experience in their area of interest. The duration of the visit can vary from 6 weeks to 3 months depending on personal circumstances and be linked to the back of the conference.

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FROM THE SUPPORT GROUP

Patient support groups (PSGs) came into existence to provide patients and their families a compassionate and safe environment to share their experiences and learn coping mechanisms for managing their health challenges. Patient support groups in the West came into existence much before the concept became known in India. Countries like the USA, UK and other countries in Europe have state funding and medical insurance coverage for most diseases. Socioculturally, PSGs are well accepted by both the medical and patient communities.

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Demystifying Rheumatology

Rheumatology India


Rheumatology is an all-pervasive specialty. No organ, tissue, or system of the body (including nails and hair) is immune to rheumatic diseases, as rheumatic diseases are not restricted to joints and bones. Soft tissues, muscles, nerves, and blood vessels are also affected. Rheumatic diseases, one of the most common human afflictions, do not respect human attributes, such as age, sex, socioeconomic status, and education. Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disease. Humans have suffered from OA from time immemorial. The first description of arthritis is credited to Hippocrates. Charak had described arthritis in great detail. It, therefore, comes as a surprise that rheumatology remained neglected for a long time, especially in India. Till recently, patients were treated by generalists and orthopedic surgeons. It is so even today, because of the prevailing misconceptions, and lack of awareness of the specialty and what it has to offer. Rheumatology treatment in India began when in the year 1959, late Dr. M. M. Desai started the 1st rheumatology OPD at Nair Hospital, Mumbai. But it took a decade before additional rheumatology centers were established in Chandigarh, Delhi, Kolkata (Calcutta), Chennai (Madras), and Mumbai (Bombay). These became the founder institutions.

It is important to know the perceptions of society and medical fraternity.

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KNOW YOUR DISEASE

Q1: OA is a disease that affects elderly individuals.

ANS:
Well, that is true. The risk of OA increases with age, and aging is the single most important factor leading to this wear-and-tear type of disease. But obesity, a positive family history, a sedentary and ‘lazy’ lifestyle can make you degenerate faster.

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DOCTOR'S DILEMMA

Osteoarthritis – A Clinician’s Perspective

Osteoarthritis (OA) remains one of the most common types of arthritis in the world. In the general population above 60 years of age, at least 80% percent of people have osteoarthritis. Rheumatologists in our country, being few , are so overworked that osteoarthritis remains the domain mainly of orthopedic surgeons today.

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The Funny Bone

The knee Pop

There was a time, my life was a song
The patella, femur and tibia, they all got along
I ran, I jogged, I danced with such poise
But soon they began to make some noise
Crack, pop, grate, what’s all this fuss
The doc saw my knee, said crepitus

QUIZ TIME

What is osteoarthritis?

a. It is a joint disease affecting elderly individuals.
b. Joint problems come under osteoarthritis, irrespective of age.
c. Pain in the knee is osteoarthritis.

MY LIFE, MY CHOICES

Name: Neetu Wadhwa


In Jan 2006, I saw my fingers turning blue in extreme cold, but I ignored them. And during the same year, I started having breathing issues but did not think about it much, as I have a family history of asthma. It was easy to attribute it to family history. My doctor prescribed an inhaler, and I went on with my life. Also, I swelling, especially my thumbs, which I did not pay much attention to at the time. Ignoring was easy, but was it bliss?

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Disclaimer
The views expressed in this newsletter do not necessarily reflect those of the sponsor. The sponsor does not assume any responsibility for copyright infringement, if any. Please consult full prescribing information before prescribing any of the products mentioned in the newsletter. The information provided in this newsletter is for scientific dissemination to medical professionals only and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of IPCA Labs. Dosages, indications, method of use of products and all other related information by the authors may reflect their own clinical experience.