ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Anthrax is a rare infection transmitted to humans from animals or animal products. In cutaneous anthrax it may produce lesions of the eyelids which can lead to cicatricial ectropion. METHODS: We examined three women and five men with anthrax of the eyelids. Intravenous penicillin G was used alone as therapy. RESULTS: All patients presented with a localized itchy erythematous papule of the eyelid. A necrotising ulcer formed in each case, resulting in black eschar. The lesions resolved, with only mild cicatrization of the eyelid in all the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Anthrax is primarily an infectious disease of domestic animals but it is also seen in humans. Eyelids are rarely affected but cutaneous anthrax should be considered in any patient with a painless ulcer or black eschar who has a history of exposure to animals.
Subject(s)
Anthrax/complications , Eye Infections, Bacterial/complications , Eyelid Diseases/complications , Skin Ulcer/complications , Adult , Anthrax/drug therapy , Anthrax/microbiology , Child , Eye Infections, Bacterial/drug therapy , Eye Infections, Bacterial/microbiology , Eyelid Diseases/drug therapy , Eyelid Diseases/microbiology , Female , Humans , Male , Penicillin G/therapeutic use , Penicillins/therapeutic use , Skin Ulcer/drug therapy , Skin Ulcer/microbiologyABSTRACT
Anthrax is an infectious disease caused by Bacillus anthracis. It is primarily a disease of domestic animals such as cattle, goats, and sheep; but humans can rarely be infected by contact with infected animals or contaminated animal products. Our case is a 4-year-old boy who was initially diagnosed as preseptal cellulitis, but later he showed the characteristic anthrax lesions with a black necrotic eschar. Scrapings from the necrotic tissue showed gram positive rods and culture grew Bacillus anthracis. The patient responded to intravenous administration of penicillin G, and the lesions resolved, leaving a scar on the right upper eyelid. Eyelid involvement of anthrax is rarely seen in clinical practice, but should be considered in differential diagnosis.
Subject(s)
Anthrax , Cellulitis/microbiology , Eyelid Diseases/microbiology , Anthrax/drug therapy , Cellulitis/complications , Cellulitis/pathology , Child, Preschool , Cicatrix/etiology , Cicatrix/pathology , Eyelid Diseases/complications , Eyelid Diseases/pathology , Humans , Injections, Intravenous , Male , Penicillin G/therapeutic use , Penicillins/therapeutic useABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To determine changes in choroidal and retinal blood flow in myopic retinopathy. DESIGN: Case-control study. SETTING: Ophthalmology department of a university-affiliated hospital in Elazig, Turkey. SUBJECTS: Twenty-one consecutive patients (40 eyes) with degenerative myopia and 20 age-matched healthy emmetropic volunteers (38 eyes). Both groups were free of any systemic disease, such as diabetes mellitus or hypertension, that can affect micro- or macrocirculation. OUTCOME MEASURES: Posterior ciliary artery and central retinal artery peak systolic, peak diastolic and mean blood flow velocity (measured with colour Doppler ultrasonography), pulsatility index and resistance index. RESULTS: The posterior ciliary artery mean peak systolic (12.34 vs. 16.90 cm/s) and peak diastolic (3.12 vs. 5.10 cm/s) blood flow velocity values were significantly lower in the study group than in the control group (p < 0.001). There was a significant difference in the posterior ciliary artery resistance index between the two groups (0.74 vs. 0.69) (p < 0.05). The central retinal artery mean peak systolic (6.64 vs. 9.72 cm/s) and peak diastolic (2.01 vs. 3.07 cm/s) blood flow velocity values were also significantly lower in the study group than in the control group (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Choroidal and retinal blood flow was decreased in degenerative myopia. The reduced choroidal blood flow may be partly due to increased vascular resistance. Decreased retinal blood flow is probably an adaptive change.
