A Boy The First Person With Rare Disorder Affect The Conjunctiva

A six-year-old boy is believed to be the first person to have symptoms of a rare disorder called Langerhans cell histiocytosis in the conjunctiva; the disorder typically affects the bones, skin, lymph nodes and lungs. It will sometimes affect other parts of the eye. Langerhans cells are part of the body's immune system; the disorder is an abnormal proliferation of these cells. The cause is unknown.

The boy's doctors reported his case in the October 2002 issue of Archives of Ophthalmology. In addition to a bump on his conjunctiva, he had lesions on his gums and other symptoms. They treated him with chemotherapy and radiation.

(Source: AP Biscom)