title: Patterns of uveitis in children presenting at a tertiary eye care centre in south India.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the patterns of uveitis in the paediatric age group in a referral eye care centre in south India.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-one patients 15 years or younger with uveitis, examined in the year 2000, were included in this study. The uveitis was classified according to the anatomical site of ocular involvement and the most probable aetiological factor. The final diagnosis was based on clinical manifestations and results of specific laboratory investigations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total 31 (6.29%) paediatric uveitis cases were seen among the 493 uveitic cases in the year 2000. The male:female ratio was 17:14. Anterior (9 cases), intermediate (9 cases) and posterior uveitis (9 cases) were seen in equal number. Four patients had panuveitis. Twenty-seven patients had visual acuity of 6/36 or better at presentation. Approximately 25% (8 of 31) patients had cataract secondary to inflammation. Immunosuppressives were administered in 4 patients and one patient required cataract surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Uveitis in children comprises approximately 6% of uveitis cases in a referral practice in south India. Anterior, intermediate and posterior uveitis are seen in equal numbers. We recommend that intermediate uveitis be ruled out in all cases of anterior uveitis by careful clinical evaluation including examination under anesthesia (EUA) when required.
authors.affiliation: Medical and Vision Research Foundation, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai, India.
authors.forename: Kannan M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Narayana
authors.forename: Archana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bora
authors.forename: Jyotirmay
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Biswas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002386:Cataract / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015864:Panuveitis / Q000453:epidemiology; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014605:Uveitis / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014606:Uveitis, Anterior / Q000453:epidemiology; D015866:Uveitis, Posterior / Q000453:epidemiology; D014792:Visual Acuity