Demographic and Clinical Profile of Pediatric Uveitis in Delta Region, Egypt

ABSTRACT

Purpose

Pediatric uveitis poses unique challenges, characterized by difficulties in performing comprehensive examinations, potential delays in diagnosis, and a heightened risk of ocular complications. This study evaluate the etiologic and clinical characteristics of uveitis in children presenting to the Mansoura Ophthalmic Center, Mansoura, Egypt.

Methods

A cross-sectional observational study was undertaken involving children diagnosed with uveitis attending the uveitis outpatient clinic at Mansoura University Ophthalmic Center. Comprehensive clinical evaluations were carried out, including detailed history taking and exhaustive ophthalmological examinations. Whenever deemed necessary, Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and Fluorescein Fundus Angiography (FFA) were utilized to secure retinal images. An extensive systemic evaluation was also conducted to discern the diverse causes of uveitis among the participants.

Results

The cohort comprised 63 children, impacting 97 eyes. Bilateral involvement was seen in 54% of cases, with a male predominance of 58.7%. The predominant etiologies of uveitis were presumed trematode-induced (36.7%), Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) accounting for 28.6%, and in 12.7% of cases, the cause remained undetermined. Anterior uveitis emerged as the primary presentation in 79.4% of cases. Regarding visual loss, cataract was the leading cause at 56.4%, followed by vitritis at 38.4%, and macular edema at 20.5%.

Conclusion

Anterior uveitis was the most frequent presentation in our pediatric cohort. Despite the challenges, the majority of children with uveitis exhibited no significant visual impairment, with most causes of visual loss being reversible.

KEYWORDS:

• Pediatric uveitis
• presumed trematode uveitis
• JIA
• FFA
• OCT

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Abbreviations

AC: anterior chamber; BCVA: best-corrected visual acuity; CME: cystoid macular edema; CNV: choroidal neovascularization; ERM: epiretinal membrane; FFA: fundus fluorescein angiography; IMT: immunomodulatory therapy; IOP: intraocular pressure; JIA: juvenile idiopathic arthritis; KPs: keratic precipitates; LogMAR: Logarithm of the Minimum Angle of Resolution; NSD: neurosensory detachment; OCT: optical coherence tomography; RD: retinal detachment; SLE: systemic lupus erythematosus; US: ultrasonography; VKH: Vogt Koyanagi-Harada

Additional information

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial or not for profit sectors.