Optic neuritis following chickenpox in adults

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Ophthalmology
• Immunology

Background:

• Chickenpox (varicella-zoster virus infection) is common in childhood.
• Post-infectious neurological complications, though rare, can occur.
• Optic neuritis and transverse myelitis are inflammatory conditions affecting the central nervous system.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe three cases of young adults experiencing neurological complications after chickenpox.
• To investigate the visual outcomes in patients with post-chickenpox optic neuritis, with or without transverse myelitis.
• To explore the potential immunological basis of these complications.

Main Methods:

• Case report analysis of three young adult patients.
• Clinical assessment of visual acuity and neurological status.
• Review of the temporal relationship between chickenpox infection and neurological symptom onset.

Main Results:

• All three patients developed severe bilateral optic neuritis following chickenpox.
• Two patients with isolated optic neuritis showed good visual recovery.
• One patient with concurrent transverse myelitis had poor visual recovery.
• A notable interval between the chickenpox rash and onset of optic neuritis was observed.

Conclusions:

• Bilateral optic neuritis is a potential, albeit rare, complication of chickenpox in young adults.
• Concomitant transverse myelitis may negatively impact visual prognosis.
• The timing suggests an immunological mechanism, likely a post-infectious autoimmune response, underlies these neurological complications.