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[Sudden sight impairment revealing a cat-scratch disease: report of three cases]
L Besson-Leaud1, E Mancel, I Missotte
1Service de pédiatrie, CHT de Magenta, BP J5, 98849 Nouméa, Nouvelle-Calédonie. laurentbessonleaud@hotmail.com <laurentbessonleaud@hotmail.com>
Insights
Cat-scratch disease can cause sudden vision loss in children, presenting as acute sight impairment. Early antibiotic treatment may be effective, though its overall potency is debated.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Cat-scratch disease, a common cause of pediatric lymphadenopathy, presents with atypical forms.
- Three pediatric cases of acute bilateral sight impairment with papillary edema, fever, and normal neurological findings are presented.
Observation:
- Patients tested positive for Bartonella Henselae.
- Symptoms included sudden bilateral sight impairment and papillary edema.
Findings:
- Cat-scratch disease can manifest as isolated, acute sight impairment.
- Stellate neuroretinitis is a characteristic finding in these cases.
Implications:
- This highlights a rare but significant ocular manifestation of cat-scratch disease in children.
- The efficacy of antibiotic therapy for ocular symptoms warrants further investigation.
Unlabelled:
Cat-scratch disease is a frequent but innocuous cause of chronic lymphadenopathy in children. Numerous atypical forms have been described. We report three cases of acute sight impairment revealing a cat-scratch disease.
Background:
A 13 year-old boy and two girls aged 10 and 13 suffered from a sudden bilateral sight impairment with papillary edema, with fever in two cases. Neurological examinations, X-rays and lumbar puncture results were found normal. However, all patients were tested positive to Bartonella Henselae. Antibiotic and anti-inflammatory treatments were efficient in two cases.
Conclusion:
Cat-scratch disease can be characterized by an isolated and acute sight impairment with a stellate neuroretinitis. The potency of antibiotic treatments is debatable.
