[Herpetic keratitis. Clinical and therapeutic aspects]

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Virology
• Infectious Diseases

Context:

• Herpetic keratitis, a viral infection of the cornea caused by herpes simplex virus, presents in various forms, including superficial and discoid.
• Understanding the efficacy of antiviral treatments across different herpetic keratitis presentations is crucial for optimizing patient care and resource allocation.
• This retrospective study analyzes 161 cases to evaluate treatment outcomes.

Purpose:

• To assess the impact of specific antiviral medication on hospitalization duration for different forms of herpetic keratitis.
• To compare treatment effectiveness between first-time superficial keratitis, relapsed superficial keratitis, and discoid keratitis.

Summary:

• A retrospective analysis of 161 herpetic keratitis cases (121 superficial, 40 discoid) was conducted.
• Superficial herpetic keratitis cases included 72 first manifestations and 49 relapses.
• Antiviral treatment significantly reduced hospitalization for first-time superficial keratitis but showed no significant effect on relapsed or discoid forms, where non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs and vitamins were also utilized.

Impact:

• Findings suggest a differential response to antiviral therapy based on the clinical presentation of herpetic keratitis.
• Highlights the need for tailored treatment strategies, potentially combining antivirals with anti-inflammatory agents and vitamins for specific patient groups.
• Informs clinical decision-making for managing herpetic keratitis, aiming to optimize recovery times and patient outcomes.