2020–2021 BCSC Basic and Clinical Science Course™
6 Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
Part II: Pediatric Ophthalmology
Chapter 24: Uveitis in the Pediatric Age Group
Uveitis is broadly defined as inflammation of the uvea, including the iris, ciliary body, and choroid. See BCSC Section 9, Uveitis and Ocular Inflammation, for a more detailed description of the clinical features and inflammatory mechanisms of the conditions discussed in this chapter.
Epidemiology
The prevalence of pediatric uveitis varies among studies, with pediatric cases accounting for 2%–14% of all uveitis cases. The distribution between the sexes is similar to that of uveitis in adults, showing a slight female preponderance. The mean age at diagnosis is 8–9 years, and 75% of patients have bilateral disease. In the United States, approximately 62% of pediatric patients with uveitis are white. The 2 major etiologies of uveitis in children are idiopathic (25%–54% of cases) and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (15%–47% of cases). Most types of uveitis are not inherited.
Excerpted from BCSC 2020-2021 series: Section 10 - Glaucoma. For more information and to purchase the entire series, please visit https://www.aao.org/bcsc.