Posters

Queratoconjunctivitis induced by Processionary Thaumetopoea pityocampa caterpillar hairs

Poster Details

First Author: A.Chapinal López SPAIN

Co Author(s):    F. Zavarse Fadul   G. Blanca                 

Abstract Details

Purpose:

Report two clinical cases describing anatomical lesions with slit lamp examination, treatment and outcomes

Setting:

Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón Sección de Córnea, Madrid, Spain

Methods:

Retrospective, descriptive study of 2 patients with conjunctivitis caused by Processionary. Case 1 a male 42 years old with red eye and foreign body sensation, He showed a BCVA of 1 and biomicroscopy revealed hyperemia and chemosis and the presence of numerous caterpillar hairs in the superficial stroma accompanied superficial keratitis. Case 2: a woman 28 year-old complained of foreign body sensation, red eye, photophobia and secretions, she presented a BCVA of 1, with two caterpillar hairs, one of them situated in deep stroma with a pre-descemet fibrotic reaction.

Results:

Both patients were treated with topical treatment based on antibiotics (fluoroquinolones), steroids and antihistamines; having a favourable evolution and fully recovered of symptoms.

Conclusions:

The damage produced by two mechanical and toxic mechanisms, toxic is due to a protein secreted by an accessory hair gland, Thaumatopin, which induces a strong immune response when hair affects Descemet. The most common early signs of the embedded caterpillar hairs are keratitis and conjunctivitis, which usually respond to treatment. And the same time steroids accelerate the reabsorption of corneal infiltrates that progressively disappear over time normally. But is important to note that is possible a posterior migration which can occur years after the initial episode, therefore is necessary a follow-up of these patients

Financial Disclosure:

None