title: Conjunctival proliferation after a mild pepper spray injury in a young child.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report a case of conjunctival proliferation in a 2.5-year-old boy after initial evidence of a mild chemical injury after ocular exposure to pepper spray (oleoresin capsicum).
  
  
  METHODS
  Case report with ophthalmologic and histologic findings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A child presented with mild conjunctival injection and chemosis without any corneal erosion after direct exposure to pepper spray. Three weeks later, a significant conjunctival proliferation was found at the limbus, which was refractory to treatment with topical corticosteroids. Finally, proliferative tissue was surgically excised without clinical recurrence during 2 months of follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We hypothesize that the young age of the patient may have been an important factor for the severe conjunctival proliferation in comparison to a mainly uncomplicated course of pepper spray injuries in most adults. We recommend the use of topical antiinflammatory treatment even in apparently mild pepper spray injuries, especially in young children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital of Bern, Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gerber
authors.forename: Beatrice E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Frueh
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tappeiner
mesh_terms: D000061:Accidents, Home; D000336:Aerosols; D002057:Burns, Chemical / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003229:Conjunctival Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005126:Eye Burns / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013508:Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014031:Tobramycin / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D010936:Plant Extracts; C018620:oleoresins; D003907:Dexamethasone; D014031:Tobramycin