Sarcoidosis: child vs adult

To compare the features of sarcoidosis in children to those of adults. In spite of the fact that sarcoidosis is a disease frequently seen in adults of 30-40 years, pediatric cases have rarely been reported.

The authors evaluated 17 (3.3%, 12 females, 5 males) of the 516 patients of sarcoidosis, aged 16 yr and diagnosed within a 36-year period.

When the features of sarcoidosis subjects diagnosed during the childhood period were compared to those of subjects >16 years of age, it was seen that patients with advanced stage of the disease were more in the first group (41.2% vs 18%, p=0.02). In addition, children had more frequent extrapulmonary (64.7% vs 40.3%) and lacrimal gland involvement (p values, respectively, 0.044 and 0.003).

When clinical data are relevant, sarcoidosis should be borne in mind. A child with sarcoidosis has more frequent pulmonary parenchymal and extrapulmonary involvement than in adults.