Sanjeev Y. Tuli, MD

Five-year-old girl with redness and light sensitivity of the right eye of 2 days' duration. She denied any significant pain or decreased vision. She initially presented to an urgent care clinic, where application of polymyxin B/trimethoprim eye drops 4 times a day was prescribed. Her symptoms had persisted despite this treatment. The mother was concerned because her daughter had kept the right eye closed since she awoke that morning. She also had noticed minimal clear discharge from the eye.

Otherwise healthy child with no chronic medical conditions. She was given no medications other than the eye drops. She had no fevers, headaches, or difficulty in swallowing; 
 no history of recent travel or travel abroad; and no pets. Family was unaware of any other children (in day care or neighborhood) with “pink eye.”

Alert, active child in slight distress related to her right eye. She was afebrile. Vital signs appropriate for her age. She had no preauricular lymph node enlargement. Systemic examination findings within normal limits.

Visual acuity 20/40 in right eye, 20/30 in left eye. Pupils equal and reactive to light, eyes aligned, and extraocular movements full. Right lower lid slightly edematous and erythematous; no vesicular or pustular lesions noted on the lid margin or periorbital skin. Conjunctiva significantly injected with diffuse tiny gelatinous bumps (

). Corneal light reflex slightly irregular in some areas; cornea otherwise clear. Anterior chamber and red reflex also clear. Left eye completely normal.

Right eye viewed by Wood lamp after application of fluorescein dye as shown (

Wood lamp examination after fluorescein dye instillation revealed small branching lesions on both the cornea and conjunctiva, representative of herpes simplex conjunctivitis and keratitis. The girl was referred to ophthalmology. A conjunctival swab sent for herpes simplex virus (HSV) testing by fluorescent antibody revealed HSV type 1. This result was subsequently confirmed by viral culture.

HSV has been identified as the causative agent in as many as 21% of cases of acute follicular conjunctivitis.

 Herpes simplex conjunctivitis can result from primary infection or reactivation of latent HSV infection in the trigeminal ganglion.

Diagnosis of herpes simplex conjunctivitis is usually clinical, based on the characteristic appearance of significantly injected conjunctiva with diffuse tiny gelatinous bumps, which indicate a follicular reaction. About 90% of cases of conjunctivitis caused by HSV are unilateral.

 Primary herpetic conjunctivitis or keratoconjunctivitis is often associated with blepharitis and tender preauricular lymphadenopathy, although this sign is usually absent in recurrent disease.

The conjunctivitis may be associated with keratitis, which is characterized by branching dendrites on the cornea and conjunctiva that appear to have terminal bulbs on close examination. The dendrites stain with fluorescein as well as with Rose Bengal, a vital dye that stains HSV-infected cells at the periphery of the lesions. In cases without corneal involvement, swabbing the conjunctiva for viral culture can confirm the diagnosis. Serology is not useful in diagnosis because the sensitivity and specificity are low for this test.

Herpetic conjunctivitis and even keratitis often resolve spontaneously. However, in untreated cases or with repeated recurrences, keratitis often leaves residual scarring in the shape of a “ghost dendrite” that may affect vision if in the visual axis. Therefore, treatment is advised in all patients with herpes keratoconjunctivitis. Application of topical 1% trifluridine eye drops every 2 hours while awake is the standard therapy for herpetic keratitis. Oral acyclovir or valacyclovir may be used in patients who may not cooperate with topical administration. Recently, a new topical formulation of 0.15% ganciclovir ophthalmic gel, applied 5 times daily, has been approved for use in the United States and may make topical therapy more convenient. Gentle wiping of the corneal lesion can hasten resolution of keratitis; this is because the infected cells adhere poorly and debride easily, while the surrounding normal cells are unaffected.

 Prophylactic therapy with an oral antiviral is recommended for patients with recurrent herpetic eye disease because studies have shown that it decreases the risk of recurrence by 50%.

This girl was treated with trifluridine eye drops as well as oral acyclovir, and the corneal lesion was debrided with a cotton swab. At follow-up a week later, her symptoms had completely resolved. She had no residual corneal scarring, and her vision was 20/30 in both eyes with Allen cards. She continued treatment with the topical and oral medications for a total of 2 weeks. The mother was informed of the possibility of recurrence and was instructed to bring the child to the ophthalmologist immediately if she notices any eye redness. Prophylactic treatment with oral acyclovir was also offered, but this was deferred.

1. Wishart PK, James C, Wishart MS, Darougar S. Prevalence of acute conjunctivitis caused by chlamydia, adenovirus, and herpes simplex virus in an ophthalmic casualty department. 

2. Uchio E, Takeuchi S, Itoh N, et al. Clinical and epidemiological features of acute follicular conjunctivitis with special reference to that caused by herpes simplex virus type 1. 

3. Wilhelmus KR. Antiviral treatment and other therapeutic interventions for herpes simplex virus epithelial keratitis. 

4. Young RC, Hodge DO, Liesegang TJ, Baratz KH. Incidence, recurrence, and outcomes of herpes simplex virus eye disease in Olmsted County, Minnesota, 1976-2007: the effect of oral antiviral prophylaxis. 

Articles

Five-year-old girl with redness and light sensitivity of the right eye of 2 days' duration. She denied any significant pain or decreased vision. She initially presented to an urgent care clinic, where application of polymyxin B/trimethoprim eye drops 4 times a day was prescribed.

Young Girl With “Bumpy” Red Eye

The bump on this 5-year-old girl's left wrist had been gradually enlarging. The child could not remember how long it had been present. It waxed and waned and caused some discomfort when she flexed or extended her hand. She denied throbbing pain or weakness of the hand.

The nodule, located on the volar radial surface of the left wrist, was slightly firm, fluctuant, and nontender. It did not appear to be inflamed and produced no pulsations on palpation. The child had full wrist motility and no weakness of the muscles of the palm. These findings were consistent with a ganglion.

About 60% of hand and wrist tumors are ganglia, although they are less common in children than in adults. Ganglia typically develop adjacent to joints and tendons. They are most commonly located on the dorsal wrist, followed by the volar radial wrist. Although ganglia look like cysts, they are not true cysts because they lack an epithelial lining and are usually multilobulated, with a wall composed of collagen fibers. Inside is a clear, viscous mucin that contains glucosamine, albumin, globulin, and hyaluronic acid. Some theorize that breaks in the tendon sheath or joint capsule allow fluid to leak out, which irritates the surrounding tissues and results in a pseudocapsule. Another theory is that recurrent stress and trauma near a joint causes mucin production or mucoid degeneration of the tissues. However, most patients do not recall a specific inciting traumatic event.

Ganglia usually present as asymptomatic masses of months’ or years’ duration. They may wax and wane or disappear completely, only to recur with repeated joint motion. The tumors, especially when large, can cause aching wrist pain, tenderness, and interference with activity. They may compress the underlying medial or radial nerves and present with weakness or loss of sensation in the hand. The lesion is usually compressible, transilluminating, slightly mobile, and without overlying skin changes. Differential diagnoses include radial or ulnar artery aneurysms, which present with a pulsatile mass, and lipoma, which does not transilluminate or fluctuate in size.

About half of ganglia resolve spontaneously. Treatment is necessary only when the tumors cause discomfort or put pressure on tendons or nerves. Rupturing a ganglion is not recommended because it may damage surrounding structures. Fluid aspiration of dorsal ganglia results in permanent resolution in most cases. Volar ganglia usually require surgical excision because of the risk of damage to the radial artery or nerve with aspiration. This can be done under local anesthesia and results in resolution almost universally.

This child was referred to an orthopedist for further evaluation and management because she had a large cyst, greater than 2 cm, which caused her discomfort, and its appearance bothered her mother.

• Thornburg LE. Ganglions of the hand and wrist. 

• Young L, Bartell T, Logan SE. Ganglions of the hand and wrist. South Med J. 1988;81:751-760.

The bump on this 5-year-old girl's left wrist had been gradually enlarging. The child could not remember how long it had been present.

Ganglion cyst

For 3 days, a 10-year-old boy had an itchy, tense, vesicular rash on the fingers of both hands (

). He was otherwise healthy. He had no exposure to chemicals or plants and no history of recent illness or sick contacts. His medical history was unremarkable. Application of an over-thecounter hydrocortisone cream provided some relief. The mother had had a few episodes of a similar rash during her teenage years. She also had a history of well-controlled atopic dermatitis, with no recent recurrences.

The rash was not inflamed or erythematous. Some of the lesions had formed bullae that were similarly tense and contained a clear fluid. They were mainly located along the lateral and volar aspects of the digits and thumb (

). The remaining physical examination findings were normal.

This child has pompholyx, a recurrent dermatitis that occurs mainly in teenagers and young adults. It is characterized by a noninflammatory but pruritic vesicular or bullous rash with a predilection for the hands and feet.

 It is usually bilateral and may be symmetrical. The condition frequently develops in the summer.

The vesicles usually persist for 3 to 4 weeks and may occur in crops. In the chronic phase, the skin may have thickened fissured plaques that can be uncomfortable.

Although the cause is unknown, affected patients often have atopy and a patch test that is positive for allergens.

 Studies have shown a relationship between pompholyx and exposure to metals, especially nickel, in the diet or in prostheses (such as orthodontic wires). Pompholyx is also called dyshidrotic eczema because it may be associated with excessive sweating of the palms. However, the clear fluid in the vesicles has a physiologic pH and contains protein, unlike sweat. Unlike contact dermatitis, which mainly affects the dorsal surface of the hands, this condition affects the volar and lateral surfaces. It may also mimic a vesicular or id reaction to a dermatophyte infection of the feet.

The clinical course of dyshidrotic eczema can range from mild and self-limited to chronic and severe. In some patients, it can be debilitating. Scratching the lesions can deroof the vesicles and bullae, which may lead to bacterial superinfection.

Patients are advised to avoid exposure to harsh soaps or metals that may worsen the condition. The mainstay of treatment is potent topical corticosteroids and cool compresses. 

 Systemic corticosteroids for severe, widespread cases and corticosteroid-sparing medications for long-term use may be needed. Occlusive therapy with pimecrolimus may be useful in patients with severe hand and foot involvement. However, its potential adverse effects preclude it from being first-line therapy. Psoralen plus UVA therapy has also been shown to be beneficial. In the chronic phase, emollients and lubrication can help prevent painful fissures. Despite these measures, the condition can be very frustrating for the patients and their families.

This patient was treated with a wet dressing followed by mometasone cream 0.1%, applied topically once daily for 2 weeks. At follow-up, his symptoms and rash had resolved, leaving only mild postinflammatory hyperpigmentation.


1. Veien NK. Acute and recurrent vesicular handdermatitis. Dermatol Clin. 2009;27:337-353, vii.
2. Guillet MH, Wierzbicka E, Guillet S, et al. A3-year causative study of pompholyx in 120 patients.Arch Dermatol. 2007;143:1504-1508.
3. Wollina U, Abdel Naser MB. Pharmacotherapyof pompholyx. Expert Opin Pharmacother. 2004;5:1517-1522.

For 3 days, a 10-year-old boy had an itchy, tense, vesicular rash on the fingers of both hands (A). He was otherwise healthy.

Pompholyx

A 16-year-old boy presented for evaluation of his worsening behavior at school. He was very hyperactive and had difficulty in paying attention. He had always required help with reading and language. Maternal pregnancy and birth history were unremarkable.

During the physical examination, the patient was noted to have 8 hyperpigmented macules ranging from 2 to 8 cm with smooth margins, 7 or 8 flesh-colored, nontender papules, and 3 nodules on the trunk (

). His mother had numerous similar lesions on her trunk (

). Neither son nor mother had any changes in vision, heart murmur, or bony deformity. A diagnosis of neurofibromatosis had been suspected by a previous physician but had not been confirmed.

Neurofibromatosis type I, first described by von Recklinghausen in 1882, is one of the most common autosomal dominant neurocutaneous conditions. The estimated incidence is 1 in 2500 to 3000 persons, independent of ethnicity, race, and gender.

Formal diagnostic criteria were established by the Health Consensus Development Conference in 1987. Currently, the diagnosis is made when 2 or more of the following clinical features are present

Neurocognitive deficits, including gross and fine motor delays, visuospatial and language disorders, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and behavior and psychosocial issues, are very common in patients with neurofibromatosis type I. All children with neurofibromatosis type I should have a developmental and neuropsychological assessment before school entry for educational planning.

Associated cardiovascular issues include congenital heart disease, vasculopathy (renal artery stenosis, coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, arteriovenous malformations), and hypertension. Annual blood pressure screening and cardiovascular examination are recommended.

Scoliosis is present in 10% to 25% of patients and, depending on severity, may be treated by braces, corrective surgery, or early spinal fusion.

 Short stature is seen in about 15% of patients.

Consultation with cardiac, orthopedic, and ophthalmological specialists may be indicated to rule out or manage conditions associated with neurofibromatosis.

This patient was enrolled in a behavior modification program. He was also placed in the individualized education program at school for children with learning disabilities. At last checkup, he was making good progress.

 Williams VC, Lucas J, Babcock MA, et al. Neurofibromatosis type 1 revisited. 

 Ferner RE, Huson SM, Thomas N, et al. Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of individuals with neurofibromatosis 1. 

 Tsirikos AI, Saifuddin A, Noordeen MH. Spinal deformity in neurofibromatosis type-1: diagnosis and treatment. 

 Alwan S, Armstrong L, Joe H, et al. Associations of osseous abnormalities in neurofibromatosis 1. 

Author | Sanjeev Y. Tuli, MD

Articles

Young Girl With “Bumpy” Red Eye

Ganglion cyst

Pompholyx

Developmental Delay in a Teen With Neurofibromatosis Type I