Scleritis in children: Etiology, pathogenesis, clinical features, diagnostic, and treatment algorithm

Abstract

AIM: To analyze the etiology and pathogenesis and identify clinical and diagnostic features, development of a diagnostic algorithm, and personalized treatment of scleritis in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve children with mono- and bilateral scleritis with disease duration of 39 months were observed. Biomicroscopy, ophthalmoscopy, and ultrasonography of the eyes were performed. The examination plan included consultations with a rheumatologist, otorhinolaryngologist, and dentist and laboratory blood analysis in the enzyme immunoassay to detect the presence of IgG and IgM antibodies to herpes viruses and markers of their reactivation. RESULTS: Chronic scleritis in 58.4% of the patients was associated with immunoinflammatory rheumatic diseases: 41.7% with juvenile idiopathic arthritis and 16.7% with psoriatic arthritis. In some cases scleritis was associated with chickenpox, surgical treatment of congenital pigmented nevus of the skin of eyelids,n on the conjunctiva and oculomotor muscles, otogenic neuritis of the facial nerve. Сlinical features of anterior deep scleritis and symptoms of bacterial scleritis are described. Personalized schemes for the diagnosis and treatment of scleritis in children have been developed. Conservative treatment included instillation of glucocorticoids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. In addition, to anti-inflammatory therapy, antibacterial drugs are prescribed only in the presence of clinical signs of bacterial scleritis; in other cases, their use is inappropriate. The indications for antiviral therapy included laboratory confirmation of herpes infection reactivation. Personalized etiotropic therapy made it possible to achieve remission of scleritis in 914 days. CONCLUSION: This study analyzed the etiopathogenesis of scleritis, described the characteristic clinical features of anterior deep scleritis in children, and developed personalized diagnostic and treatment schemes.