Childhood Sarcoidosis: Difficult Journey To A Rare Destination
Debashish Dhar1, Tazrin Farhana1, Syed Rezaul Huq2, K.C. Ganguly3, Md. Khairul Hassan Jessy3, A.H.M. Raihanuzzaman Sarkar4, Syed Nesar Ahmed1, Bulbul Parveen1, Romal Chowdhury1, Monjurul Alam1, Barkat Ullah2, Shamsul Arafeen Khan5
Abstract
Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease of unknown etiology. It most commonly affects the
young adults. Though lung is the most frequently involved organ, the disease can affect any organ of the
body. The disease is relatively rare in children. Childhood sarcoidosis often remains undiagnosed. It is
divided into two subgroups- early onset and late onset sarcoidosis. Children younger than 4 years of age
usually present with early onset sarcoidosis with the triad of skin, joint and eye involvement, without typical
lung disease. In older children sarcoidosis presents as same as adults with lung involvement and systemic
features. This disease can be progressive in early onset presentation and have more complications as
diagnosis is often delayed. Here, we present a case of early onset sarcoidosis in a 3½ years old child who
initially presented with fever and abdominal distension.
Keywords: Fever, Early Onset Sarcoidosis, Erythematous skin plaques, Hepato-splenomegaly