title: The Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction in ocular syphilis.
abstract: A patient with ocular syphilis is presented. She experienced deterioration in vision following the commencement of treatment due to a Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction. This is a transient febrile illness that can occur in patients after the first adequate dose of an anti-microbial drug to treat infectious diseases such as syphilis, Lyme disease and relapsing fever. However, a Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction occurring in a patient receiving treatment for ocular syphilis can be serious, resulting in the rapid loss of vision.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University Malaya Medical Center, 50603 Kuala Lumpur.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fathilah
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Choo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015818:Eye Infections, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006801:Humans; D010406:Penicillins / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013587:Syphilis / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D010406:Penicillins