VIDEO: Ronald M. Laxer, MDCM, FRCPC, addresses rheumatologic disease 'masquerading' as infection

NEW YORK — Certain rheumatologic diseases can often appear initially to be infections, according to Ronald M. Laxer, MDCM, FRCPC, professor at the University of Toronto’s departments of pediatrics and medicine and staff rheumatologist at the Hospital for Sick Children.

“There are many clinical situations where we work together with our colleagues in infectious diseases,” Laxer said.

In this video, Laxer presents three unique cases — a case of periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis and cervical adenitis, a case of macrophage activation syndrome and a case of chronic nonbacterial osteomyelitis — to demonstrate the ways in which  rheumatologic disease can appear as infections. – by Eamon Dreisbach

Disclosure: Laxer reports affiliations with Sobi, Alexion, Novartis and Eli Lilly Canada.