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Uveitis in children
1The Uveitis Service and The Pearl & Samuel J. Kimura Ocular Immunology Laboratory, The Francis I. Proctor Foundation, UCSF, Medical Center, San Francisco, California 94143-0944, USA. emmett@itsa.ucsf.edu
Insights
Pediatric uveitis, affecting 5-10% of cases, presents varied patterns. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to prevent vision loss from complications like cataracts and glaucoma.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Ophthalmology
- Inflammatory Eye Diseases
Background:
- Uveitis in children is a significant cause of ocular morbidity.
- Understanding its prevalence and patterns is vital for effective management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize the prevalence and patterns of uveitis in pediatric populations.
- To identify common causes and visual complications in children with uveitis.
Main Methods:
- A review of pertinent medical literature was conducted.
- Data on uveitis prevalence, types, causes, and outcomes in children were synthesized.
Main Results:
- Children represent 5-10% of uveitis patients at referral centers, with a slightly higher incidence in girls.
- Anterior uveitis (30-40%) is often linked to juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), while posterior uveitis (40-50%) is frequently caused by toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis.
- Intermediate and diffuse uveitis (10-20% and 5-10%) are typically bilateral, chronic, and idiopathic. Complications like cataracts, glaucoma, and macular edema lead to vision impairment in up to one-third of cases.
Conclusions:
- Uveitis is a critical factor in pediatric ocular morbidity.
- Prompt diagnosis and intervention are essential to mitigate long-term vision loss in affected children.
Purpose:
To summarize the prevalence and patterns of uveitis in children.
Methods:
Pertinent articles were reviewed.
Results:
Children constitute 5-10% of the patients with uveitis seen at tertiary referral centers, and girls appear to develop uveitis slightly more frequently than boys. Among all children with intraocular inflammation, anterior uveitis accounts for 30-40%, posterior uveitis accounts for 40-50%, intermediate uveitis accounts for 10-20%, and diffuse uveitis accounts for 5-10%. The most common cause of anterior uveitis is juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), whereas the most frequent type of posterior uveitis is toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis. Most cases of intermediate and diffuse uveitis are bilateral, chronic, and idiopathic. The most common causes of vision loss in children with uveitis are cataract, band keratopathy, glaucoma, and cystoid macular edema. Up to one-third of the children with uveitis are left with severely impaired vision as a result of these complications.
Conclusions:
Uveitis is an important cause of ocular morbidity in children. Prompt diagnosis and treatment is essential to minimize the risk of long-term vision loss.