epidemiology

Last reviewed 01/2018

When this condition occurs in younger children there is a higher incidence of girls than boys - it most commonly affects girls of less than 6 years of age. Also, there is a higher incidence of antinuclear factor and an increased risk of development of anterior uveitis.

In older boys who possess the tissue type HLA B27, there is an increased tendency to develop a lower limb arthritis which may then progress to ankylosing spondylitis of varying severity. Also, they are more prone to the development of an acute iridocyclitis.