Visual hallucinations in childhood are overrepresented by which gender?

• A. Men
• B. Children
• C. Women
• D. Elderly

Answer: (C)

Visual hallucinations in childhood show a female predominance because certain causes that produce perceptual symptoms in young people are more common in girls. A key example is autoimmune encephalitis, particularly anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis, which disproportionately affects females in the pediatric to adolescent range and often presents with psychiatric symptoms along with hallucinations. This pattern helps clinicians consider autoimmune/inflammatory etiologies when girls present with new visual experiences. The other options don’t fit the context: the elderly would point to conditions like Charles Bonnet syndrome, which isn’t a pediatric issue, and referring to “children” as a gender doesn’t apply. So, the best answer reflects the observed female representation in childhood visual hallucinations.