Smallpox (variola)

General: Highly contagious cutaneous disease caused by viral infection.

Ocular: Conjunctivitis; keratitis; corneal ulcer; hypopyon; endophthalmitis; congenital corneal clouding; albinotic spots on iris; choroiditis; vitreous opacities; papillitis; extraocular muscle palsies; entropion; dacryocystitis; chorioretinitis; optic neuritis; and vesicles of the eyelid; preauricular adenopathy; eyelid ulcerating pustules; several conditions predispose to the spread of vaccinia, including eczema, hypogammaglobulinemia, steroid therapy, and AIDS.

Clinical: Fever, headache, and vomiting prior to appearance of the rash on the face, upper trunk, and down to the extremities.

Fillmore GL, Ward TP, Bower KS, et.al: Ocular complications in the department of defense smallpox vaccination program. Ophthalmology 2004; 111: 2086-2093.

Harley RD, ed. Pediatric Ophthalmology. 4th ed. Philadelphia: WB Saunders, 1998.

Ruben FL, Lane JM. Ocular vaccinia: an epidemiologic analysis of 348 cases. Arch Ophthalmol 1970; 84:45-48.

Wright DC, et al. Disseminated vaccinia in a military recruit with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease. N Engl J Med 1987; 316:673-676.