How common is SLE in children
SLE is the most common CTD of childhood. The proportion of all patients with SLE showing symptoms of SLE before the age of 18 years is 20%. In childhood, the disease generally occurs after the age of 10 years (60%) and rarely before the age of 5 years (5%). The ratio of girls to boys is about 2:1 before age 10 years and then, in adolescents, is similar to the ratio of adult women to men (5:1 to 10:1). SLE appears to be more common in nonwhite children. About 10% have one or more affected relatives, including siblings and twins.
