Vaccines and Immuno-suppression

If your child is taking methotrexate, enbrel, humira, infliximab, tofacitinib, rituximab or tocilizumab, he or she should not have any LIVE vaccines. This means no rotavirus, MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), chickenpox (Zoster), BCG or Yellow Fever vaccines (among others). If you're not sure whether a vaccine is live or not, please contact us to check. Your child is encouraged to have all other (non-live) vaccines, including a yearly flu vaccine.

RCH and APRG* rheumatology resources for patients and families

• Glossary
• Finding the support you need
• Finding the support you need: a guide for adolescents
• How others can help
• Joint injections and sedation
• About joint injections - a guide for adolescents
• Helping your teenager become more independent in their health care
• Becoming more independent in your healthcare: a guide for adolescents
• Breathing and relaxation strategies
• Breathing and relaxation strategies: a guide for adolescents
• Helping your child manage pain during procedures
• Good sleep habits - Arthritis Australia handout

Information about specific medications

• NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) - Arthritis Australia handout (eg brufen, naprosyn, voltaren, celebrex etc)
• Steroids - Arthritis Australia handout
• Adalimumab (Humira) - Arthritis Australia handout for adults
• Adalimumab (Humira)- UK website for adults
  
• Etanercept (enbrel) - Arthritis Australia handout for adults
• Methotrexate - parent information
  
• Methotrexate - how to give injections at home
• Methotrexate - Arthritis Australia handout
• Subcutaneous Methotrexate - parent information
  
• Amitriptyline (endep) - Arthritis Australia handout
• Azathioprine - Arthritis Australia handout
• Cyclophosphamide - Arthritis Australia handout
• Hydroxychloroquine - Arthritis Australia handout
• Leflunomide - Arthritis Australia handout
• Mycophenolate mofetil - Arthritis Australia handout
• Sulfasalazine - Arthritis Australia handout
• Anakinra - how to give injections at home
• Anakinra - how to give injections at home: a guide for adolescents
  

Resources about Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA)

• Information for Kids with JIA
• Information for Young People with JIA
• Physiotherapy and JIA
• Physiotherapy and JIA: a guide for adolescents
• General information about JIA
• Information for teachers
• Information for sports teachers
• Managing the impact of JIA on your child's life
• Managing the impact of JIA on your family
• Medication overview for JIA
• Treatments commonly used for JIA
• Your pre-schooler with JIA

Information about other conditions; see also the Links page

• Juvenile Dermatomyositis (JDM) - Arthritis Australia handout
• Localised Scleroderma (Morphoea) - Arthritis Australia handout
• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE or Lupus) - PRINTO UK website
• Uveitis in JIA - Arthritis Australia handout on uveitis
• Chronic Recurrent Multifocal Osteomyelitis (CRMO) - Arthritis Australia handout
• Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) - Arthritis Australia handout
• Henoch Schoenlein Purpura (HSP) - PRINTO UK website
• Reactive Arthritis - Arthritis Australia handout
• Behcet's Disease - PRINTO UK website
• Growing Pains (benign noctural limb pains) - Arthritis Australia handout
• Anterior knee pain - RCH Orthopaedics and Physiotherapy dept
• Anterior knee pain - Arthritis Australia handout
• Sever's Disease - Victorian Paediatric Orthopaedic Network
  
• Sever's Disease - Arthritis Australia handout
• Flat feet - Victorian Paediatric Orthopaedic Network
• Osgood-Schlatter's - Victorian Paediatric Orthopaedic Network
• Posture and spine care - Victorian Paediatric Orthopaedic Network
• Adolesecent Scoliosis - RCH Orthopaedics and Physiotherapy dept
• Intoeing - Victorian Paediatric Orthopaedic Network
• Hypermobility - RCH Orthopaedics and Physiotherapy dept
• Hypermobility - Arthritis Australia handout
• Chilblains - Arthritis Australia handout
• Chronic pain - Arthritis Australia handout

Resources for Adolescents

• Finding the support you need: a guide for adolescents
• About joint injections - a guide for adolescents
• Becoming more independent in your healthcare: a guide for adolescents
• Breathing and relaxation strategies: a guide for adolescents
• Anakinra - how to give injections at home: a guide for adolescents
• Information for Young People with JIA
• Physiotherapy and JIA: a guide for adolescents

 *APRG: Australian Paediatric Rheumatology Group, of which RCH is a member