Pediatric Autoimmune Diseases
Pediatric Autoimmune Diseases encompass a diverse group of conditions in which a child’s immune system mistakenly targets its own tissues. These disorders affect multiple organs—including joints, skin, kidneys, blood vessels, endocrine glands, and the nervous system—making diagnosis and management complex. This session provides an in-depth review of autoimmune mechanisms, clinical patterns, diagnostic strategies, and long-term management, reflecting updates often discussed at a specialised Pediatrics Conference.
Participants will examine diseases such as juvenile idiopathic arthritis, lupus, vasculitis, autoimmune hepatitis, autoimmune thyroiditis, type 1 diabetes, and autoimmune encephalitis. The session highlights how genetic factors, environmental triggers, infections, and immune dysregulation contribute to disease onset. A major theme is designing coordinated pediatric autoimmune disease pathways that guide evaluation, referrals, monitoring, therapy decisions, and family counselling.
Case-based scenarios illustrate presentation variability, from subtle early symptoms to fulminant organ involvement requiring urgent intervention. Attendees will learn diagnostic approaches incorporating autoantibody tests, imaging, biopsy findings, and clinical scoring tools. The session covers therapeutic strategies including immunomodulators, corticosteroids, biologics, targeted therapies, and supportive care.
Attention is given to emotional and developmental challenges faced by children living with chronic autoimmune disease, such as fatigue, school disruptions, anxiety, and treatment burden. Participants will explore multidisciplinary approaches involving rheumatology, endocrinology, neurology, nephrology, psychology, and allied-health professionals.
Global and equity considerations include delays in diagnosis, limited access to specialists, cost of biologics, cold-chain requirements, and under-recognition in low-resource settings. The session encourages clinicians to advocate for equitable care and personalised management plans.
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Submit Your Abstract Here →Core Themes in Pediatric Autoimmune Diseases
Understanding autoimmune mechanisms
- Exploring immune dysregulation, genetic risk, and environmental triggers.
- Recognising organ-specific and systemic autoimmune patterns.
Diagnostic evaluation approaches
- Using antibody tests, imaging, and scoring tools.
- Distinguishing autoimmune disease from infections and malignancies.
Therapeutic options and monitoring
- Balancing immunosuppression benefits and risks.
- Evaluating biologic therapies and treatment adjustment.
Impact on daily life and development
- Assessing school participation, wellbeing, and adherence challenges.
- Supporting mental-health needs and coping strategies.
Practice Insights and Autoimmune Care Pathways
Creating pediatric autoimmune disease pathways
Coordinating evaluation, therapy, and long-term reviews.
Strengthening multidisciplinary care
Integrating rheumatology, endocrinology, neurology, and psychology.
Enhancing family education and involvement
Empowering parents to support treatment decisions and monitoring.
Addressing disparities in care access
Improving specialist availability and medication affordability.
Monitoring long-term outcomes
Tracking organ function, growth, and treatment side effects.
Supporting smooth transition to adult care
Preparing adolescents for independent disease management.
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