LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Optic neuropathy and cat scratch disease

Neuropatia óptica e doença da arranhadura do gato

Viroj Wiwanitkit

Physician, Wiwanitkit house

Correspondence address

Editor, a recent report on optic neuropathy and cat scratch disease is very interesting⁽¹⁾. Indeed, the ocular involvement in cat scratch disease is not uncommon but usually overlook. Gann et al quoted that "Cat scratch disease should be considered in the differential diagnosis for patients presenting with blurred vision and headache, even in the absence of fever, lymphadenopathy, or both⁽²⁾." This disease can usually be self-limited in healthy subjects but can be serious in some cases. The important point is the concern of the first physician who gets the case on this disease. This condition can be overlooked and if the serious presentation occurs, the late diagnosis can deteriorate the clinical outcome.

REFERENCES

1. Aragão RE, Ramos RM, Bezerra AF, Cavalcanti Júnior RB, Albuquerque TL. Optic neuropathy secondary to cat scratch disease: case report. Arq Bras Oftalmol. 2010; 73(6):537-8.         

2. Gan JJ, Mandell AM, Otis JA, Holmuhamedova M, Perloff MD. Suspecting optic neuritis, diagnosing Bartonella cat scratch disease. Arch Neurol. 2011;68(1):122-6.         

Correspondence address:
Viroj Wiwanitkit.
Wiwanitkit House
Bangkhae
Bangkok
Thailand
10160
Email: [email protected]

Submitted for publication: May 3, 2011
Accepted for publication: May 23, 2011

Funding: No specific financial support was available for this study.
Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest: V.Wiwanitkit, None.