Research Article: Acute Pupillary Disorders in Children: A 10-Year Retrospective Study of 101 Patients
Abstract:
Background: To date, no study has specifically examined children with acute-onset pupillary motility disorders (APMD). Especially in the Emergency Department (ED), it is crucial to distinguish benign and transient conditions from life-threatening or urgent conditions (UCs). The aim of the study is to describe the clinical characteristics of children with APMD and their association with an increased risk of UCs. Methods: We conducted a pediatric retrospective study of APMD referred to ED over a 10-year period. We described the characteristics in the overall sample and in two subgroups divided according to urgency of the underlying condition. Furthermore, we applied a logistic regression model to identify the variables predictive of LT condition. Results: We analyzed 101 patients. In 59.4%, the APMD was isolated. In patients with extra-ocular involvement, the most frequently associated features were altered consciousness, headache, and vomiting. Exposure to toxic agents was reported in 48.5%. Urgent conditions occurred significantly more frequently in older children, presenting bilateral APMD and/or other ocular or extra-ocular manifestations. Conclusions: Our study shows that UCs most commonly occur in patients presenting with bilateral APMD and other associated features. In unilateral/isolated APMD ophthalmological examination, exclusion of toxic exposure and observation until resolution of symptoms should be recommended.
Introduction:
Pupil examination provides an objective assessment of the visual pathway and the autonomic control of the eye. Pupillary inspection is a valuable part of the general, ophthalmological, and neurological examinations, especially in the emergency setting. Pupillary dysfunction may present alone or can be associated with other neurological signs and symptoms. In the latter scenario, it may represent a valuable finding to localize the injury affecting the nervous system. Ocular motility disorders are a not-so-rare…
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