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[Bartonella henselae neuroretinitis in an adolescent]
María E Conde1, María E Antueno1, Florencia Palmieri2
1Unidad 6 de Clínica Pediátrica, Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Archivos Argentinos De Pediatria
|November 23, 2021
Summary
Neurorretinitis, a rare complication of cat scratch disease, can cause vision loss. A characteristic "macular star" finding in a teen
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Infectious Diseases
- Neuro-ophthalmology
Background:
- Cat scratch disease (CSD) is caused by Bartonella henselae.
- Ocular manifestations, including neurorretinitis, occur in 1-2% of CSD patients.
- Ocular symptoms can precede or occur without systemic signs of infection.
Observation:
- A 14-year-old boy presented with decreased visual acuity and suspected optic neuritis.
- Ophthalmological examination revealed papilledema and a characteristic "macular star" in the left eye.
- The macular star is a hallmark sign suggestive of Bartonella henselae infection.
Findings:
- The clinical presentation and characteristic macular star led to the diagnosis of CSD.
- Serological testing confirmed the presence of Bartonella henselae infection.
- Prompt diagnosis allowed for appropriate management of the ocular manifestation.
Implications:
- This case highlights the importance of recognizing the macular star sign for diagnosing CSD-related ocular disease.
- Early diagnosis and treatment of CSD can prevent irreversible vision loss.
- Ophthalmologists should consider CSD in the differential diagnosis of optic neuritis and macular exudates.
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