Nutritional disorders in children with rheumatic diseases and opportunities for their correction

Rheumatic diseases in children are accompanied by a high risk of various nutritional status disorders. Children with this condition are most often diagnosed with growth retardation, overweight or obesity, bone diseases and sarcopenia, which develop against the background of chronic inflammation, aggressive pharmacological treatment and prolonged hypodynamia. In the absence of timely diagnosis and correction, nutritional disorders can have a negative impact on the severity and duration of the disease, reducing the effectiveness of pharmacological treatment and the quality of life of patients. Standard methods for assessing nutritional status, including body composition evaluation, should be part of the clinical monitoring program for rheumatic diseases in children, and prompt initiation of individual diet therapy or nutritional support will minimize the negative impact of these factors on the health of patients. Key words: rheumatic diseases, juvenile osteoarthritis, nutrition, nutritional status