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Causes of infectious pediatric uveitis: A review
Yaninsiri Ngathaweesuk1, Jytte Hendrikse2, Jolanda Dorothea Francisca de Groot-Mijnes3
1Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Department of Ophthalmology, Phramongkutklao Hospital, Phramongkutklao College of Medicine, Bangkok, Thailand.
Insights
Early diagnosis and treatment of infectious pediatric uveitis are crucial for preventing severe vision loss and systemic infections. This review summarizes key aspects of this rare condition in children.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Infectious pediatric uveitis is rare but can lead to severe ocular damage and systemic infection if not promptly identified.
- Existing literature often consists of small case series or individual reports, with a lack of systematic reviews on infectious uveitis in children.
- Most pediatric uveitis studies focus on noninfectious causes, highlighting a gap in comprehensive understanding of infectious etiologies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a comprehensive review of infectious uveitis in pediatric populations.
- To summarize current knowledge on epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic approaches, and treatment strategies.
- To aid in the early diagnosis and management of infectious pediatric uveitis to improve patient outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature review of infectious uveitis in children.
- Analysis of studies reporting on epidemiology, clinical signs, diagnostic tests, and treatment.
- Categorization of causative pathogens by microbiological group (parasites, viruses, bacteria, fungi).
Main Results:
- Infectious pediatric uveitis encompasses a range of pathogens including parasites, viruses, bacteria, and fungi.
- Early detection is vital to prevent vision impairment and life-threatening systemic infections.
- A comprehensive understanding of diagnostic and therapeutic options is essential for effective management.
Conclusions:
- Infectious pediatric uveitis requires prompt recognition and management to preserve vision and overall health.
- This review consolidates existing literature to guide clinicians in diagnosing and treating this condition.
- Further systematic research is needed to enhance the understanding and treatment of infectious pediatric uveitis.
Abstract:
Infectious pediatric uveitis is a rare disease that can cause severe ocular damage if not detected rapidly and treated properly. Additionally, early identification of an infection can protect the child from life-threatening systemic infection. Infectious uveitis can be congenital or acquired and may manifest as a primary ocular infection or as a reactivation. Nevertheless, publications on infectious paediatric uveitis are usually limited to a small number of patients or a case report. So far, most studies on uveitis in children have focused primarily on noninfectious uveitis, and a systematic study on infectious uveitis is lacking. In this review, we summarize the literature on infectious uveitis in pediatric populations and report on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical signs, diagnostic tests, and treatment. We will describe the different possible pathogens causing uveitis in childhood by microbiological group (i.e. parasites, viruses, bacteria, and fungi). We aim to contribute to early diagnosis and management of infectious pediatric uveitis, which in turn might improve not only visual outcome, but also the general health outcome.
