Rheumatology
Rheumatology services
Rheumatology is a medicine concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases in the joints such as rheumatoid arthritis, and autoimmune connective tissue diseases like lupus.
Rheumatology divides cases of arthritis into osteo-arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Osteo-arthritis involves a general breakdown of joint cartilage over time. This causes inflammation and joint pain, which is treatable with anti-inflammatories.
Rheumatoid arthritis is more systemic - a painful swelling in all or most joints at once.
Our rheumatology services include:
- an outpatient service at Tauranga Hospital and Whakatāne Hospital
- a paediatric rheumatology clinic at Tauranga Hospital.
- some inpatient care of rheumatology patients who are admitted under general medicine.
More information
- arthritis.org.nz Arthritis New Zealand