Systemic lupus erythematosus in children: a case report and review

Abstract

A 12-year-old Papua New Guinean female presented initially with nonspecific clinical symptoms, fever of unknown origin and anaemia. She subsequently developed multisystem disease involving the respiratory, gastrointestinal, central nervous, musculoskeletal and cutaneous systems. She was diagnosed to have systemic lupus erythromatosus (SLE) and started on treatment. Unfortunately the patient defaulted from follow-up after treatment, which covered seven months only, to present with acute respiratory distress from which she died within 24 hours. A relevant literature review with the clinical features of systemic lupus erythematosus in children is described.