Q: My brother is 14 years old studying in the 10th class. He experiences headache followed by pain in the leg joints for the past one year. We consulted a physician who suggested clinical tests of which the results are: ASO Titre: Positive 632.8 IU/ML; ESR: 05 mm I hour; Rheumatoid Factor RF/RA): Negative; Complete blood count - Haemoglobin: 11.9 gm%, RBC: 3.5 million/Cmm, WBC: 9,900/cumm, Neutrophils: 48%, Lymphocytes: 43%, Eosinophils: 06%, Monocytes: 03%, Basophils: 00%. The doctor says that it is a Sero Negative Rheumatoid Arthritis and he gave a test dose of penicilline injection but it did not suit him. He says there is Penicillin sensitivity and he suggested some tablets for 15 days - DICCONAN 50 and SUPRACAL-A. Now we are using these tablets. Is this 100% curable?

A:The history of headache and leg pain is NOT sufficient enough clinical information to reach any conclusive diagnosis. Investigations are of no value unless clinical details are available to make a provisional diagnosis. Therefore, my suggestion is that you contact a paediatric rheumatologist(specialists in joint diseases of children) for clinical evaluation and correct diagnosis. As there are only 3 or 4 such specialists in India, I am giving you the name and telephone number of one of them as follows: Dr. (Mrs.) Sujata Sawhney, MD, MRCP, Paediatric Rheumatologist, Mobile number: 9811444116 Whatever information that has been provided by you DOES NOT suggest the possibility of the disease that you have mentioned namely, seronegative rheumatoid arthritis.