A Case Report and Global Perspective on Fusarium Superficial Keratitis in the Pediatric Population

Fungal keratitis is a major cause of corneal blindness in tropical regions, with Fusarium species predominating. Pediatric cases, though less common, carry a greater risk of amblyopia and long-term disability. We report a nine-year-old boy who developed Fusarium keratitis after minor ocular trauma and unsupervised corticosteroid use. Corneal scrapings showed septate hyphae, and identification confirmed Fusarium solani by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Treatment with topical natamycin and voriconazole led to complete healing without surgery. This case highlights the need for early recognition, rapid microbiological confirmation, and appropriate antifungal therapy in pediatric fungal keratitis, while underscoring the dangers of unsupervised corticosteroid use in endemic regions.