Journal List > J Korean Ophthalmol Soc > v.51(5) > 1008827

Lee and Park: A Case of Tsutsugamushi Disease Associated With Intermediate Uveitis and Retinal Detachment

Abstract

Purpose

The authors report a Tsutsugamushi patient who has intermediate uveitis and rhegmatogenous retinal detachment without a typical skin eschar, which may be rare.

Case summary

The authors present a case of a 63-year-old man who complained of fever, chills, and headache, with lympha-denopathy, hepatomegaly, reticulonodular pneumonia, and blurred vision in the right eye after descending a mountain in autumn. Serological findings showed elevated titers for strains of Rickettsia tsutsugamushi, even though no eschar could be found on his body. In addition, the ophthalmologic examination disclosed vitreous opacity as uveitis in his right eye; thus, the patient was treated for Tsutsugamushi disease. However, retinal detachment was found in his right eye even after treatment. Thus, a vitrectomy and intravitreal silicone oil injection was performed, and the patient's best corrected visual acuity improved from hand motion to 0.04 on the 7th day after the operation.

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Figure 1.
Photograph of a 64-year-old man with conjunctival injection and dilated episcleral vessels in his right eye.
jkos-51-784f1.tif
Figure 2.
Photograph shows vitreous opacity with “snowball appearance” in his right eye.
jkos-51-784f2.tif
Figure 3.
Photographs show rhegmatogenous retinal detachment with a large tear at the superotemporal retinal area in his right eye during operation and also show a very thin epiretinal membrane (A&B).
jkos-51-784f3.tif
Figure 4.
(A) Little vitreous opacity and stable retina are seen in the right fundus of the 64-year-old man on the 7 th day after operation.(B) No conjunctival injection and normal episcleral vessels are seen on the 7th day after operation, too.
jkos-51-784f4.tif
Figure 5
.(A) Typical face in a moderately ill patient on the 10 th day of fever, showing periorbital and malar puffi-ness, mouth-opening from nasal congestion and apathetic countenance.(B) Well developed maculopapular rashes were seen on the 10 th day of fever at his right arm.
jkos-51-784f5.tif
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