2022 Volume 13 Issue 1 Pages 10-15
Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by disorders of the exocrine glands. Although SS has been considered rare in children, it is actually the fourth or fifth most common childhood collagen disease. Many pediatric patients do not complain of dryness; thus, a lot of cases are thought to go undiagnosed. Although the long-term prognosis of SS in children is unknown, early diagnosis and long-term follow-up are necessary because dry subjective symptoms and new extra-glandular organ damage may occur in some cases, and malignant lymphoma may develop in a small number of cases. The Diagnostic Guidance for SS in Childhood (2015) is helpful for early diagnosis. Early intervention to control the progression of symptoms and treatment is a future issue, so it is important to consider SS as a differential in daily medical care, to perform tests on suspected cases, and to avoid missing possible cases of SS.
