Ocular involvement associated with varicella in adults.
J Ophthalmic Inflamm Infect 2016;
6:47. [PMID:
27896784 PMCID:
PMC5126028 DOI:
10.1186/s12348-016-0117-9]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2016] [Accepted: 11/17/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Varicella is a common infectious disease primarily of childhood that is usually benign and self-limited. It is, however, increasingly seen in adults who are at a higher risk of severe infection. Ocular complications of varicella are relatively uncommon and have been rarely described in adults. We describe herein five adults who developed ocular involvement in association with primary varicella-zoster virus infection.
FINDINGS
Ocular manifestations included acute anterior uveitis in four eyes, with associated stromal keratitis in one of them, epithelial ulcerative keratitis in the two eyes of one patient, and acute retinal necrosis in one eye. One patient with acute anterior uveitis was treated with topical steroids and cycloplegic agents. The four other patients received topical or systemic antiviral drugs, with subsequent resolution of acute ocular inflammatory disease.
CONCLUSIONS
The spectrum of chickenpox-associated ocular complications in adults is wide. Early diagnosis and appropriate management are mandatory to improve visual outcome.
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