Sjögren’s syndrome in children

Abstract

Sjögren’s syndrome is a chronic inflammatory systemic autoimmune disease mainly affecting the exocrine and, particularly, the salivary and lacrimal glands. The immune-mediated attack on the salivary and lacrimal glands leads to the development of dry mouth (xerostomia) and dry eyes (keratoconjunctivitis sicca), which takes place in association with lymphocytic infiltration of the glands. That inflammatory process eventually severely damages or destroys the glands. Sjögren’s syndrome can affect people of either sex and of any age, but most cases occur in women. The average age for the onset is late forties, but in rare cases, Sjögren’s syndrome is diagnosed in children.