Pediatric uveitis

Post here to exchange iritis general information and support with others.

Moderators: Mike Bartolatz, kwork

Post Reply
Mike Bartolatz
Posts: 6595
Joined: Fri Feb 06, 2004 9:58 pm

Pediatric uveitis

Post by Mike Bartolatz »

http://www.uveitis.org/medical/articles ... ricuv.html

this article outlines treatment as well as the most common causes of all three types of uveitis in all age groups of children. many of these same 'causes' translate into the adult population as well. with over 85 different causes of uveitis, many are omitted however so please do not think that only these things are related to uveitis.

HLA B27 related uveitis is mentioned in the tables for example in the non granulomatus anterior uveitis (iritis and iridocyclitis) but it can also cause later onset intermediate and posterior uveitis as well as late on set changes to the eye. there are many other causes that can be determined should one get a 'bug' while around animals or from playing fields where animals have left fecal matter. individuals who have traveled or have spent some time in an under developed part of the World can sometimes develop uveitis as well.

Scleritis can occur in children too along with some of the autoimmune diseases mentioned.

under treated uveitis in children can quickly turn to severe vision loss with complications of cystoid Macular edema, epiretinal membrane formation, elevated intra ocular pressure from disease or the corticosteroids used to treat the child resulting in damage to the optic nerve (glaucoma) cataracts can also develop in children and may require surgery to remove. both the disease and the corticosteroids can cause cataracts to develop. We suggest that a corticosteroid sparing approach be implemented quickly in children with autoimmune related uveitis. treatment algorithms for various types of uveitis can be found at http://www.uveitis.org the website of the Ocular Immunology and Uveitis Foundation in Cambridge, MA USA. the website was founded by C Stephen Foster MD. who is the top Ocular Immunologist in the USA and perhaps the World. He developed these treatment algorithms while Teaching Opthalmology and training Ocular Immunologists at Harvard Medical School and MEEI. a couple of years ago he founded the Foundation and the Massachusetts Eye Research and Surgery Institute where he trains Fellows and practices Ocular Immunology.

Because of severe consequences from not treating aggressively by many opthalmologists children needlessly permanently lose vision which could be avoided had a true expert in the diagnosis and treatment of all Ocular Inflammatory diseases been brought into a consulting status or as the primary opthalmologist. these rare opthalmologists are called Ocular Immunologists. they are what is known as 'fellowship trained' opthalmologists in this sub Specialty of opthalmology. the don't exist in every City, or State. most are linked to Major teaching hospitals affiliated with University Medical Schools.
a list of these specialists can be found at http://www.uveitis.org in the PATIENT information section of the site on the SPECIALIST list. you can look through this list or you can ask me to suggest a specialist for a consultation.

Wishing all of our members the very best,
Mike
Mike Bartolatz
Moderator
Mike Bartolatz
Posts: 6595
Joined: Fri Feb 06, 2004 9:58 pm

Re: Pediatric uveitis

Post by Mike Bartolatz »

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2994189/


Classification of juvenile spondyloarthritis: enthesitis-related arthritis and beyond

this talks about genetic factors and means of classification in juveniles as well as adults to differences in how arthritis occurs between various age groups and biological markers associated with SPA, ERA, JIA Etc.
Mike Bartolatz
Moderator
pupino
Posts: 6
Joined: Fri Dec 23, 2011 2:29 pm

Re: Pediatric uveitis

Post by pupino »

It's interesting how different factors trigger arthritis to occur at different ages. I think most of us assume arthritis won't be a problem until we're older, but genetics prove that even kids can develop it. How is it treated in children? Does international medical insurance cover these treatments?
Last edited by pupino on Sat Feb 04, 2012 12:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Mike Bartolatz
Posts: 6595
Joined: Fri Feb 06, 2004 9:58 pm

Re: Pediatric uveitis

Post by Mike Bartolatz »

The same way as in adults with disease modifying drugs. NSAIDs are used first as they have the least amount of side effects.
STeroids are limited because they can cause developmental problems in kids.
DMARD drugs and TNF-A blocking drugs.
other classes of drugs as required.
Mike Bartolatz
Moderator
Post Reply