ABSTRACT
Objective: Diabetic retinopathy [DR] is a common micro-vascular complication of diabetes. It may lead to impaired vision or even permanent blindness. Aim of this study: To evaluate the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy [DR] in children and adolescents with type 1diabetes. Study Design: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 100 children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes, aged 10-20 years attending the diabetes clinic at Alex and ria University Children Hospital from March 2012 to April 2013 using fundus examination and retinal images. The findings were classified using the International Clinical Diabetic Retinopathy Disease Severity Scale. Demographic and clinical data were recorded included; age, weight, height, blood pressure, duration of diabetes, treatment, glycated hemoglobin level, sex maturity using Tanner staging, smoking habits and any visual complaints existed was also recorded. Results: The overall prevalence of DR among children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes was 6%: 4% females and 2% males, the mean age of patients with retinopathy was [15.5+/-1.05] years, and the mean duration of diabetes was [8.8+/-0.76] years, glycated haemoglobin was labile in 4%, and minimally controlled in 2%. Only 1% was receiving insulin treatment in a dose < 0.5 units /kg/day, while the rest of them 5% were receiving > 0.5 units/kg/day. According to their weight, 1% was underweight, 1% was overweight, while the rest of them 4% were within average weight. All of them had normal blood pressures. According to maturity staging; 5% were stage III while 1% was stage IV. No one was smoker. Conclusion: The prevalence of DR was [6%].Early detection of DR in adolescents remains important, because it allows the identification of patients at high risk of progression towards severe stages of DR. Key words: Diabetes mellitus, Screening for diabetic retinopathy, Fundus photography