title: Tuberculous Conjunctivitis in an Anophthalmic Socket.
abstract: Tuberculous (TB) conjunctivitis was not an uncommon condition before the early 20(th) century but is currently a rare occurrence, especially in the developed countries. We report a 27-year-old Saudi female who underwent enucleation of the right eye at the age of 20 following a penetrating eye injury. She had a history of miliary TB that was treated at the age of 22. She was presented with chronic purulent discharge from her right an anophthalmic socket for 2 months. Cultures for bacteria and fungi were sterile. There was no response to empirical topical antibiotics and steroids. Direct microscopic examination of conjunctival scrapings with the Ziehl-Neelsen staining revealed no microorganisms. Histopathological examination revealed epithelioid granulomas. Polymerase chain reaction was negative for Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA. TB conjunctivitis was suspected from the history of miliary TB and presence of epithelioid granulomas. The definitive diagnosis was made after prompt resolution of the ocular signs with no recurrence only after systemic anti-TB therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Dammam, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al Habash
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Dammam, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Faisal
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Malik
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Dammam, Dammam, Saudi Arabia ; Department of Ophthalmology, King Abdulaziz Hospital, National Guard Health Affairs, Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Al Abdulsalam
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, King Faisal University, Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Abdulrahim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al Abdulsalam
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003234:Conjunctivitis, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D015353:Eye Enucleation; D015818:Eye Infections, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D015807:Eye Injuries, Penetrating / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007538:Isoniazid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009916:Orbital Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D011718:Pyrazinamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012293:Rifampin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014391:Tuberculosis, Miliary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D014392:Tuberculosis, Ocular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D011718:Pyrazinamide; D007538:Isoniazid; D012293:Rifampin
keywords: Anophthalmic Socket; Anti-tuberculous Therapy; Enucleation; Miliary Tuberculosis; Tuberculous Conjunctivitis