A Case of Post Encephalitic Optic Neuritis: Clinical Spectrum, Differential Diagnosis and Management

An Atypical Case of Enterovirus Meningitis Presenting with Unilateral Optic Disc Swelling and Minimal Optical Symptoms

PURPOSE

To report a case of unilateral disc swelling as the only presentation of enterovirus meningitis in a 43-year-old male who presented with reduction in visual quality.

METHODS

Vision was 20/20 unaided in both eyes and the only ocular finding was left optic disc edema accompanied by left relative afferent pupillary defect. Visual field examination revealed a generalized reduction in sensitivity, a paracentral scotoma and a superior and inferior arcuate defect. Apart from a marginally elevated white blood cell count, the evaluation for common diseases associated with unilateral disc swelling was negative. A comprehensive neurology and rheumatology assessment,the orbital, brain and cervical spine Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), the chest and abdomen Computed Tomography (CT) and chest radiograph had no findings. However, the cerebrosipinal fluid (CSF) examination indicated the presence of enterovirus RNA.

RESULTS

A diagnosis of enterovirus meningitis was established.Patient's general health was not affected and symptoms gradually settled, with no specific anti-enteroviral treatment.

CONCLUSION

Only the CSF analysis provided interesting evidence of the site of the visual dysfunction.

Postinfectious Optic Neuritis After Hand-Foot-Mouth Disease

ABSTRACT

A 33-year-old man presented with acute painless loss of vision in his right eye after hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD). Examination confirmed a right optic neuropathy. Neuroimaging and routine evaluations for alternative causes for an optic neuropathy were negative. He was treated with high dose corticosteroids and made an almost complete visual recovery. Postinfectious optic neuritis has been reported after a vast array of infections including: varicella zoster virus, influenza virus, herpes simplex virus, Epstein-Barr Virus, Lyme disease, and many others. Although Coxsackie virus infections are a known cause of HFMD and have been reported to cause maculopathy, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of optic neuritis after HFMD in the English language ophthalmic literature.

Bilateral optic neuritis with spine demyelination associated with influenza A H1N1 infection

Purpose

To report a rare case of optic neuritis with spine demyelination following H1N1 virus infection.

Observation

A 66-year-old female presented with decreased vision in both eyes (left > right) following a recent episode of fever and flu. She was diagnosed as H1N1 infection confirmed by viral antigen analysis of throat swab. On examination, she had a profound vision drop in the left eye with optic disc edema. MRI brain and orbit revealed bilateral optic nerve and frontal dural thickening with a ring-enhancing lesion in the right frontal lobe. MRI spine showed long cord signals at T1-T7 suggestive of demyelination. The patient had a complete recovery of vision and visual fields after intravenous and oral steroids.

Conclusion/Importance

Influenza A virus can manifest with a wide range of symptoms including flu-like illness to neurological complications. This case highlights optic neuritis as a presenting feature of H1N1 infection.

Herpes Simplex Virus 2 Meningoencephalitis-Associated Bilateral Optic Neuritis and Radiculitis

The most common ocular complication of herpes simplex virus (HSV) is acute retinal necrosis. We present a rare case of a patient with HSV-2 meningoencephalitis that developed severe vision-threatening optic neuritis. The patient was treated with steroids and IVIG, which allowed a rapid improvement in her vision.