Related Experiment Videos
[Clinical characteristics of optical neuritis in children]
A F Franco1, D Cabrera, J Carrizosa
1Servicio de Neurología Infantil, Hospital Universitario San Vicente de Paul, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellin, Colombia. anferfran@geo.net.co
Insights
Childhood optic neuritis presents with decreased visual acuity, headache, and ocular pain. Most children achieve excellent visual recovery, similar to global trends.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatrics
- Neurology
Context:
- Optic neuritis in children is a significant cause of vision loss.
- Understanding its clinical course and prognosis is crucial for pediatric eye care.
Purpose:
- To characterize the clinical presentation and visual outcomes of pediatric optic neuritis.
- To compare findings with international data.
Summary:
- This study reviewed 16 pediatric patients (under 15) with optic neuritis, finding a mean age of 9.4 years.
- Common symptoms included decreased visual acuity (94%), headache (44%), and ocular ache (44%).
- Bilateral involvement occurred in 75% of cases, with 68% showing papilledema.
Impact:
- The study indicates that childhood optic neuritis in Colombia follows a similar clinical trajectory to that observed globally.
- Findings support the need for prompt diagnosis and management to optimize visual prognosis in affected children.
Objective:
To describe the clinical characteristics and the visual prognosis of a group of children affected with optic neuritis.
Patients And Methods:
The clinical charts of patients under 15 years of age with clinical criteria of optic neuritis were revised at the Hospital Universitario San Vicente de Pa l (Medell n, Colombia), in a time span from January 1th 1989 to December 31th 2001.
Results:
16 patients fulfilled the clinical criteria of optic neuritis; 50% were male and the overall mean age was 9,4 years. Seven (43,7%) patients had a preceding infectious disease two weeks earlier and only one suffered from varicella four weeks earlier. Decrease in visual acuity was present in 15 (94%) patients; 7 (44%) had headache; 7 (44%) had ocular ache and 25% had both, head and ocular ache. Neuritis was found in 28 eyes, of whom 68% had papilledema and in 32% the fundoscopic examination was normal. Bilateral affection was present in 75%. Excellent visual prognosis (20/20) was present in 19 (68%) of affected eyes; good (20/20 to 20/50) in 4 (14%), regular (20/50 to 20/100) in 2 (7%) and bad (20/200) in 11%.
Conclusion:
In our country the clinical evolution of childhood optic neuritis does not differ from that reported in other parts of the world.