Ocular features and Behcet disease in children

Objective : To describe epidemiological, clinical and evolutive features of ophthalmological involvment of Behcet disease in children in tunisian patients. Patients and methods : In a retrospective study from 1990 to 1996, we collected three observations in children in 130 recorded cases of Behcet disease. Patients have been explored by a complete ophthalmologic staging and are treated and followed in our institution for theirs oculars problems. Results : The three children, all males, aged from 12 to 13 years, represented 2.3 % of all the Behcet disease diagnosed during the same period. Oral and/or genital aphtosis are present in all 3 cases and cutaneous or articular involvment is seen in 2 patients. Ocular Behcet disease involvment, bilateral in all the cases, is dominated by uveitis (posterior in 3 patients or anterior in 2) complicated by macular edema in 3 cases and cataract or pseudo-trou in 1 case. Conclusion : Behcet disease in children is characterized by the frequency of familial forms and articular involvment. The most characteristic ocular feature is represented by the posterior uveitis with a visual prognosis poor in short term. Specific criteria of Behcet disease is necessary for children for a early and best identification.