title: Childhood discoid lupus erythematosus: a Tunisian retrospective study of 16 cases.
abstract: Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) is uncommon in children. The clinical features of childhood DLE are similar to those of adult DLE in presentation and chronic course. However, children have a particularly high level of transition to systemic disease. We undertook a retrospective study of 16 children with DLE ranging in age from 2 to 15 years, seen over a 9-year period. Six were less than 10 years old at the onset of the disease. The sex ratio was equal. The frequency of childhood DLE was about 7% of the total number of DLE patients seen in our department. Photosensitivity was defined as a clinical history of induction or exacerbation of discoid lesions following sun exposure, and was present in 81% of patients. There was no progression to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE); an average follow-up time was 10.5 months (2-30 months). We would like to emphasize the increased frequency of childhood DLE in our country and the importance of photosensitivity. However, follow-up data regarding transition to SLE is lacking, therefore we are unable to offer a prognosis to our patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, La Rabta Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia. mourad.mokni@rns.tn
authors.forename: Faïka
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cherif
authors.forename: Amel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mebazaa
authors.forename: Mourad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mokni
authors.forename: Dalenda
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: El Euch
authors.forename: Mohamed Iadh
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Azaiz
authors.forename: Amel Ben Osman
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Dhahri
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008179:Lupus Erythematosus, Discoid / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D010787:Photosensitivity Disorders / Q000150:complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014416:Tunisia / Q000453:epidemiology