[Clinical characteristics of optical neuritis in children]

Rev Neurol. 2003 Feb;36(3):208-11.
[Article in Spanish]

Abstract

Objective: To describe the clinical characteristics and the visual prognosis of a group of children affected with optic neuritis.

Patients and methods: The clinical charts of patients under 15 years of age with clinical criteria of optic neuritis were revised at the Hospital Universitario San Vicente de Pa l (Medell n, Colombia), in a time span from January 1th 1989 to December 31th 2001.

Results: 16 patients fulfilled the clinical criteria of optic neuritis; 50% were male and the overall mean age was 9,4 years. Seven (43,7%) patients had a preceding infectious disease two weeks earlier and only one suffered from varicella four weeks earlier. Decrease in visual acuity was present in 15 (94%) patients; 7 (44%) had headache; 7 (44%) had ocular ache and 25% had both, head and ocular ache. Neuritis was found in 28 eyes, of whom 68% had papilledema and in 32% the fundoscopic examination was normal. Bilateral affection was present in 75%. Excellent visual prognosis (20/20) was present in 19 (68%) of affected eyes; good (20/20 to 20/50) in 4 (14%), regular (20/50 to 20/100) in 2 (7%) and bad (20/200) in 11%.

Conclusion: In our country the clinical evolution of childhood optic neuritis does not differ from that reported in other parts of the world.

Publication types

  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Colombia
  • Female
  • Glucocorticoids / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Optic Neuritis / drug therapy
  • Optic Neuritis / physiopathology*
  • Prognosis
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Vision Disorders / drug therapy
  • Vision Disorders / physiopathology*

Substances

  • Glucocorticoids