title: Pediatric optic neuritis.
abstract: Optic neuritis (ON) is a common presenting symptom in pediatric CNS demyelinating disorders and may be associated with dramatic visual loss. Knowledge regarding clinical presentation, associated diseases, therapy, and outcomes in ON in children has grown over the past decade. These studies have shown that younger children (<10 years of age) are more likely to present with bilateral ON and older children with unilateral ON. Furthermore, studies focusing on visual recovery have shown excellent recovery of high-contrast visual acuity in the majority of children, but functional and structural studies have shown evidence of irreversible injury and functional decline after ON in children. Although randomized controlled treatment trials have not been performed in children and adolescents with ON, standard of care suggests that the use of high-dose pulse steroids is safe and likely effective. This article reviews current knowledge about the clinical presentation and management of pediatric ON, with attention to associated syndromes and evaluative tools that may inform diagnosis and interventions.
authors: From the Division of Neurology (E.A.Y.), Hospital for Sick Children, Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Neurology (J.S.G.), University of California, San Francisco; Department of Neurology (L.A.B.), Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA; Department of Neurology (E.W.), Birmingham Children's Hospital, Birmingham, UK; and Department of Neurology (A.W.), The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, PA. ann.yeh@sickkids.ca.
authors: E Ann
authors: EA
authors: Yeh
authors: From the Division of Neurology (E.A.Y.), Hospital for Sick Children, Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Neurology (J.S.G.), University of California, San Francisco; Department of Neurology (L.A.B.), Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA; Department of Neurology (E.W.), Birmingham Children's Hospital, Birmingham, UK; and Department of Neurology (A.W.), The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, PA.
authors: Jennifer S
authors: JS
authors: Graves
authors: From the Division of Neurology (E.A.Y.), Hospital for Sick Children, Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Neurology (J.S.G.), University of California, San Francisco; Department of Neurology (L.A.B.), Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA; Department of Neurology (E.W.), Birmingham Children's Hospital, Birmingham, UK; and Department of Neurology (A.W.), The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, PA.
authors: Leslie A
authors: LA
authors: Benson
authors: From the Division of Neurology (E.A.Y.), Hospital for Sick Children, Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Neurology (J.S.G.), University of California, San Francisco; Department of Neurology (L.A.B.), Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA; Department of Neurology (E.W.), Birmingham Children's Hospital, Birmingham, UK; and Department of Neurology (A.W.), The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, PA.
authors: Evangeline
authors: E
authors: Wassmer
authors: From the Division of Neurology (E.A.Y.), Hospital for Sick Children, Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Neurology (J.S.G.), University of California, San Francisco; Department of Neurology (L.A.B.), Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA; Department of Neurology (E.W.), Birmingham Children's Hospital, Birmingham, UK; and Department of Neurology (A.W.), The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, PA.
authors: Amy
authors: A
authors: Waldman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D059906:Neuroimaging; D009902:Optic Neuritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D010372:Pediatrics