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Uveitis in children and adolescents
D BenEzra1, E Cohen, G Maftzir
1Pediatric Ophthalmology and Immuno-Ophthalmology Unit, Hadassah Hebrew University Hospital, PO Box 12000, Jerusalem 91120, Israel. benezra@md.huji.ac.il
The British Journal of Ophthalmology
|March 19, 2005
Summary
Pediatric uveitis (intraocular inflammation) is more common than previously thought. Juvenile idiopathic arthritis and parasitic infections are the leading causes in children and adolescents.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatrics
- Immunology
Background:
- Uveitis, or intraocular inflammation, affects individuals of all ages.
- Understanding the prevalence and causes of pediatric uveitis is crucial for timely diagnosis and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the relative occurrence of uveitis in children and adolescents.
- To identify the primary causes of intraocular inflammation in this demographic.
Main Methods:
- A 10-year retrospective study of uveitis patients.
- Categorization by age, sex, ocular examination, and laboratory testing.
- Classification of uveitis by anatomical location and probable cause.
Main Results:
- 276 pediatric patients (33.1%) diagnosed with uveitis.
- Intermediate uveitis was most common; 70.3% had bilateral involvement.
- Non-infectious causes (66.7%) predominated, with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (14.9%) as the most frequent association. Parasitic infections were the leading infectious cause.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric uveitis is a significant clinical issue, not as rare as previously assumed.
- Juvenile idiopathic arthritis and parasitic infections are key etiological factors in pediatric uveitis.
- Establishing a diagnosis is possible in most cases, with idiopathic uveitis being less common than expected.