Premium
Bilateral chronic conjunctivitis and corneal scarring in a boy with X‐linked hypogammaglobulinaemia
Author(s) -
GHONAIUM A,
ZIEGLER JB,
TRIDGELL D
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
journal of paediatrics and child health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.631
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1440-1754
pISSN - 1034-4810
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1754.1996.tb00950.x
Subject(s) - medicine , chlamydia trachomatis , chlamydia , trachoma , dermatology , population , keratitis , immunology , pathology , environmental health
We report an unusual case of bilateral chronic conjunctivitis and corneal scarring in a boy with X‐linked hypogammaglobulinaemia (XLH) who did not respond to the usual antibacterial and antiviral therapy. An immunofluorescence test for Chlamydia trachomatis from an eye swab was strongly positive. Within days of commencement of local and systemic tetracycline therapy, he showed marked improvement. Since conjunctival follicle formation, which depends on the presence of a B‐cell population, may not occur in XLH, clinical examination in chlamydia conjunctivitis may be misleading and lead to a delay in diagnosis and treatment with resulting corneal complications, unless laboratory evidence of chlamydia infection is specifically sought.