Sarcoidosis in children

Eight patients with sarcoidosis seen at the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, during the past 10 years were reviewed. Five of the eight patients came from non-metropolitan areas. The major presenting symptoms were cough, fatigue and weight loss; peripheral lymphadenopathy and hepatomegaly were common. None of the patients had eye or central nervous system involvement. Seven patients had bilateral hilar adenopathy on chest radiograph and six had parenchymal lung changes. Angiotensin converting enzyme was measured in six patients and was elevated in all, while hypercalcaemia was present in three patients. Five patients had a tissue biopsy showing the characteristic non-caseating granulomas. Corticosteroid therapy was used for four patients and was given for hypercalcaemia in three patients and for severe restrictive lung disease in one patient.