[Uveitis of children: a report of 18 cases].
Childhood uveitis is a rare but serious disease that may causes visual loss. Causes are various and an underlying disease is not always found.


OBJECTIVE
To analyse clinical features and prognosis of uveitis in children.


METHODS
A retrospective, descriptive study of cases observed in a general pediatric unit over a period of 15 years (1990-2005) at Tunis.


RESULTS
We gathered 18 cases of uveitis (girls 55.6% ,boys 44.4%). Mean age at the diagnosis was 8+/-3 years. Diagnosis was made after a decreased of visual acuity in 55.6% of cases. Localization of uveitis was anterior (6 cases), intermediate (1 case), posterior (3 cases) and total (8 cases). An underlying disease was found in only 5 patients: Behçet's disease (3 patients), juvenile chronic arthritis (1 patient), possible dermatopolymyositis (1 patient). The evolution was favorable in 10 cases with local treatment, systemic corticotherapy and/or immunosuppressive agents. Complications occurred in 3 cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Causes of uveitis in childhood remains most often undiagnosed Our study illustrates the pending risk of severe visual impairment and strict ophtalmology follow-up is mandatory.
Matoussi
N
N
Service de pédiatrie, d'urgences et de consultations, hôpital d'enfants de Tunis, 1007, rue Jabbari-Bab-Saâdoun, Tunis, Tunisie.
Ben Slima
S
S
Fitouri
Z
Z
Marrakchi
S
S
Ben Becher
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014605:Uveitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy