Children with uveitis, especially young children, may not know how to explain what they are experiencing, or they may not know anything is wrong until the uveitis has damaged their eyes and their vision. Often, the cause of the uveitis is unknown. Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is a leading cause of uveitis in children. Certain genes may also be related to uveitis. Causes may include:
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is defined as arthritis that causes inflammation and stiffness in joints lasting more than six weeks in a child under 16 years of age.
Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by a parasite. It affects up to one fifth of all adults in America. People may become infected from eating raw or undercooked meats, drinking unpasteurized milk, cleaning cat litter boxes, or working in gardens or playing in sandboxes that contain cat feces.
Toxocariasis is a parasitic worm transmitted to people from dogs and cats. Children come into contact with the parasite when they play in sandboxes and on playgrounds contaminated with the parasite’s eggs. The worm’s larva can invade the eye and cause uveitis.
Sarcoidosis is a kind of inflammation that can affect many parts of the body. Its cause is unknown.
Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome is an inflammatory condition that involves the eyes and meninges (coverings of the brain). The condition is most common in Asians and American Indians. It often causes uveitis in both eyes and retinal detachments, and can result in serious vision loss and blindness.
Acute retinal necrosis is a condition that often causes retinal detachment and vision loss. Signs may include red eyes, eye pain and hazy/blurry vision.
Reiter’s syndrome is an inflammatory arthritis common in young men – often caused by chlamydia infection.
Lupus is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects different parts of the body, including the skin, joints, blood, and kidneys and is related to the body’s immune system.
Behcet’s disease is a rare, chronic inflammatory disease. The cause of Behcet's disease is unknown. If often begins when individuals are in their 20s or 30s, although it can happen at any age. Uveitis is very common with people suffering from Behcet’s, which can cause acute uveitis that happens soon after onset of Behcet’s disease.
Fuch’s heterochromic iridocyclitis is a chronic kind of iritis. Its cause is unknown. It may cause rapid increase in eye pressure, requiring immediate treatment.
Chicken pox is a common childhood illness. It occasionally causes serious side effects for children and people infected with the disease later in life.
