Clinical Snapshot
Bilateral Conjunctivitis in the Course of Monkeypox Infection
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A 37-year-old male patient with a 3-day history of redness, foreign body sensation, and light sensitivity in the right eye more than the left presented regarding possible conjunctivitis. In terms of patient history, monkeypox infection had been present for 14 days, as confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) diagnosis based on smears taken from genital and inguinal lesions. The inguinal lymph nodes were still swollen, and the patient’s general condition, which had briefly been reduced as a result of fever and fatigue, had already improved without internal medicine treatment. Ophthalmologically, bilateral preauricular lymph nodes and discharge-encrusted eyelid skin were evident. The bulbar and tarsal conjunctivae were injected, while the tarsal conjunctiva in both eyes was affected by a fibrin-covered lesion measuring approximately 3 mm in diameter. Opposite this, an opposing lesion had developed on the bulbar conjunctiva, additionally on the right side, lymphatic congestion of the conjunctiva was noted; there was no intraocular irritation. Since there was no indication from an internal medicine perspective for tecovirimat therapy, supportive treatment with tear replacement drops containing hyaluronic acid was carried out to ease symptoms. At 3 weeks following initial presentation, restitutio ad integrum occurred. During the course of monkeypox virus infection, mucosal involvement irrespective of the site of inoculation should be considered.
Prof. Dr. med. Ines Lanzl, Augenklinik und Poliklinik, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, ines.lanzl@mri.tum.de
PD Dr. med. Christoph Spinner, Klinik und Poliklinik für Innere Medizin II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München
Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare that no conflict of interest exists.
Translated from the original German by Christine Rye.
Cite this as: Lanzl I, Spinner C: Bilateral conjunctivitis in the course of monkeypox infection. Dtsch Arztebl Int 2023; 120: 487; DOI: 10.3238/arztebl.m2022.0346
