ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines have been reported to have ocular side effects including scleritis and episcleritis. PURPOSE: To report scleritis and episcleritis within a month following administration of COVID-19 vaccine. METHODS: Retrospective case series. RESULTS: 15 eyes of 12 consecutive patients with scleritis and episcleritis from March 2021 to September 2021 were included. The mean time of onset of symptoms in patients with scleritis was 15.7 days (range, 4-30) and for episcleritis it was 13.2 days (range 2-30). Patients received COVISHIELD™ (10 patients) and COVAXIN™ (2 patients). Five patients had denovo inflammation and seven had recurrent inflammation. Episcleritis patients were treated with topical steroids and systemic COX2 inhibitors while patients with scleritis were treated with topical steroids/oral steroids/antiviral medications depending on the aetiology. CONCLUSION: Scleritis and episcleritis following COVID-19 vaccination are milder and do not require intensive immunosuppression except in rare cases.
ABSTRACT
Background: Topical corticosteroids is a boon and also a bane in treating chronic skin conditions. The risk of cutaneous infections due to topical steroids increases with their potency, dose, and duration of treatment. Herein, we present a case series of severe debilitating infections secondary to topical steroid abuse. Materials and Methods: We came across five cases of severe skin infection following the prolonged application of topical steroids. These cases gave a history of the use of steroid creams for persistent skin conditions and the inability to visit the hospital due to the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic. Observations: We came across two cases of crusted scabies, two cases of Fournier's gangrene, and a case of erosio interdigitalis blastomycetica. These cases had been using topical steroids for a prolonged period for other dermatological conditions. Conclusion: We propose that, as crusted scabies and erosio interdigitalis blastomycetica mimic various other papulosquamous disorders, a KOH examination is a diagnostic tool. Topical steroid abuse is one of the predisposing factors for Fournier's gangrene. [ FROM AUTHOR]