Pediatric Rheumatology & Immunology Division Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Shahbag, Dhaka

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) is the premier Postgraduate Medical Institution of the country. It bears the heritage of the Institute of Postgraduate Medical Research (IPGMR) which was established in December 1965. In the year 1998 the Government converted IPGMR into a Medical University for expanding the facilities for higher medical education and research in the country. It has an enviable reputation for providing high quality postgraduate education in different specialties. The university is expanding rapidly and at present, the university has many departments equipped with modern technology for service, teaching and research. Since its inception, the university has also been delivering general and specialized clinical service as a tertiary level healthcare center.

Today the specialty of pediatric rheumatology is concerned with the diverse group of disorders that requires great expertise for prompt diagnosis and optimal management. There are few definitive diagnostic tests, sparse pathognomonic clinical signs, and therapy too often lacks specificity. This specialty requires a diagnostic and therapeutic approach to the whole child and family unit, and careful observation over long periods.

Pediatric rheumatology division, Department of Pediatrics, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) has been providing services to pediatric rheumatology patients in an organized manner since 2002. There is a 15 bedded ward and 5 bedded daycare unit for these patients. A follow-up clinic three days a week is run by the division. Around 4500 patient’s profiles are recorded in the web-based data bank. More than 25 residents have finished their thesis work and 50 articles are already published in the peer review journal on these diseases. This division has launched an advanced clinical fellowship training programme on pediatric rheumatology and immunology for increasing the awareness and addressing the PRDs to the interested pediatricians. This training helps the fellows to diagnose early, manage effectively and improve the outcome and quality of life of the children suffering from PRDs.

Three of the faculties have achieved membership of Pediatric Rheumatology International Trial Organization (PRINTO) and have completed successfully EULAR online course on Pediatric Rheumatology as well.