AUTHOR=Traore Aissata Doucoure , Koffi Joseph Kan Enock , Koffi Christ Ziahy Reine Marie , Yao Konan Joe Clovis , Goua Jean Jacque , Kouakou Ehaulier Soh Christian , Tia Weu Melanie , Daboiko Felix Jean Claude 

TITLE=Case Report: Diagnostic itinerary of a male case of juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus in Bouake

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pediatrics

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2024

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pediatrics/articles/10.3389/fped.2024.1426246

DOI=10.3389/fped.2024.1426246

ISSN=2296-2360

ABSTRACT=Juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (JLES) is an autoimmune disease of unknown aetiology. It is more common in girls but can occur in boys. Its onset at an early age is more severe, causing potentially fatal damage if not treated early. It is a polymorphous condition, misleading at first and little known in our African populations. We report a case of 12 years of misdiagnosis in a 17-year-old boy living in a semi-rural environment. This case illustrates the shortage of paediatric rheumatologists and marks a breaking point in the diagnosis of the disease, which is sometimes difficult even for practitioners, making it difficult for sick children to access care. It is important to make the general public, as well as nurses and doctors, aware of the importance of early diagnosis for effective and efficient treatment.