Clinical spectrum, disease course and management outcome of post-fever retinitis cases: experience from a tertiary eye institute in central India

PURPOSE: To report a series of five cases with retinitis following episodes of febrile illness, its evaluation, management and outcome. METHOD: Retrospective, consecutive case series of five patients presenting with acute retinitis, following a febrile illness. RESULTS: The retinal lesions had a sudden onset with rapid evolution, preceded by a febrile episode within one month of presentation, in all cases. Extensive serology and PCR testing were non-contributory toward identifying the etiology and guiding therapy. Systemic corticosteroid therapy was effective in hastening the resolution of lesions. CONCLUSION: Post-fever retinitis appears to be a distinct clinical form of acute hemorrhagic non-necrotizing retinitis without a uniformly identifiable cause, and some evidence pointing toward a para-infectious etiology secondary to flu-like illnesses. With an unusual morphological presentation and annual seasonal patterns in the endemic areas, it is important to differentiate this entity, from other forms of infectious retinitis, before initiating corticosteroid therapy.