Rubeola keratitis emergence during a recent measles outbreak in New Zealand
Aaron P.C. Ong 1 4 , Adam Watson 2 , Shanu Subbiah 2 31 Department of Ophthalmology, Southern District Health Board, Dunedin, New Zealand
2 Eye Institute, Auckland, New Zealand
3 Department of Ophthalmology, Auckland District Health Board, Auckland, New Zealand
4 Corresponding author. Email: aaronongpc@gmail.com
Journal of Primary Health Care 12(3) 289-292 https://doi.org/10.1071/HC20013
Published: 22 September 2020
Journal Compilation © Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners 2020 This is an open access article licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Measles is a highly contagious disease caused by the rubeola virus. It can result in ocular complications such as conjunctivitis and keratitis, which will be encountered in general practice. Cases usually resolve without sequelae, but may progress to corneal perforation if left untreated.
AIM: We present two cases of rubeola keratitis secondary to measles infection.
METHODS: This report is about a retrospective review of data from two patients who presented to the eye department with rubeola keratitis in the midst of the recent measles outbreak in New Zealand.
RESULTS: Both patients presented with decreased visual acuity approximately 2 weeks after being diagnosed with measles. One of them was unvaccinated, whereas the other had no documentation of previous vaccination. Both were healthy and immunocompetent individuals. There was no evidence of corneal perforation or retinopathy on examination. Both patients regained their baseline visual acuity after treatment with fluorometholone eye drops.
DISCUSSION: Despite the existence of a safe and effective vaccine, there were more than 2000 cases of measles in the recent outbreak in New Zealand. The lack of vaccination is one of the primary causes of rubeola keratitis. These cases highlight the effects of measles infection from an ophthalmology perspective and reinforce the paramount importance of getting vaccinated.
KEYwords: Measles, rubeola keratitis, conjunctivitis, vaccination, immunization
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