Q: My son is 13 years old, and has been diagnosed with spondylo arthritis. What is the treatment for the same?

A:Your son has been diagnosed to have a form of juvenile arthritis that can involve the spine, peripheral joints and the eyes. The treatment is tailored per the needs of the patient with disease modifying drugs such as Methotrexate and Sulfasalazine being effective for peripheral joints, NSAIDS such as Ralafen helping the spinal disease and biologic agents being used for the more severe end of the spectrum. So the management depends upon sites involved and the disease severity. The child should have the disease assessed and managed by a paediatric rheumatologist on a regular basis.