Evaluation and treatment of children with ocular rosacea.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the clinical presentation and treatment of ocular rosacea in children, an often unrecognized entity.


METHODS
Retrospective chart review of 20 patients (age, 22 months to 17 years) who presented during childhood with corneal pathology, lid margin disease, and skin changes consistent with ocular rosacea. All patients were evaluated by the Cornea/External Disease Division of a tertiary-care facility, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miami, FL, between 1990 and 2003.


RESULTS
Sixty percent of patients improved after treatment with systemic erythromycin or doxycycline and topical low-dose steroid preparations. Ten percent of patients experienced no change in symptoms with treatment, and 30% of patients had incomplete follow-up to determine success of treatment. The patients maintained remission for up to 4 years after a slow taper of systemic treatment. The mean length of follow-up was 19.6 months (range, 0-9 years).


CONCLUSIONS
Early recognition and treatment of ocular rosacea in children may improve patient outcome by limiting progression of corneal pathology, including scarring and vascularization.
Donaldson
Kendall E
KE
Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.
Karp
Carol L
CL
Dunbar
Mark T
MT
D000293:Adolescent; D001762:Blepharitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003229:Conjunctival Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D004318:Doxycycline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012393:Rosacea / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D004917:Erythromycin; D004318:Doxycycline