Uveitis following dengue fever

Abstract

Objective: To report the occurrence of uveitis in patients with prior history of dengue fever.

Methods: A case series of patients with uveitis, presenting with ocular symptoms 3-5 months after contracting dengue fever during the dengue epidemic without any other attributable cause for uveitis. The dengue fever had subsided without any complication. None of the patients had any ocular complication during the acute dengue infection. They were treated on the lines of uveitis with local steroids, cycloplegic, and ocular hypotensive medications, when required, and oral steroid in case of posterior segment involvement. Patients' follow-up varied from 3-5 months.

Results: Six patients with serological evidence of prior dengue fever had presented with uveitis not attributable to any other disease. Seven eyes of six patients were affected. Anterior uveitis without any evidence of posterior segment involvement was present in six eyes of five patients whereas one patient had severe vitritis also. The most common symptom was progressive decrease in vision and only three out of seven eyes had evidence of ciliary congestion. All patients promptly responded to the treatment and visual acuity returned to 6/9 or better in five eyes, while 6/24 and 6/18 in other two eyes due to the presence of cataract. None of these patients had recurrence during the follow-up period.

Conclusion: Uveitis in dengue infection is rare and ophthalmologists should be aware of these delayed ophthalmic complications. The prognosis of post-dengue uveitis is good.