Ebola Virus
Ebola virus disease (EVD) was first discovered in 1976 near the Ebola River in Congo. The virus is transmitted through direct contact with blood or body fluids or needles/syringes from a person who is sick or who has died from Ebola infection. Sexual contact with semen from a man who has recovered from Ebola is debated as a possible mode of transmission. Symptoms are fever, bruising, headache, weakness and fatigue, nausea and vomiting, and abdominal pain. Patients with acute EVD may experience conjunctivitis, conjunctival hemorrhage, and acute vision loss of unclear etiology. Symptoms may appear 2–21 days after initial exposure. There is no vaccine or curative medication for EVD; treatment is aggressive supportive care.
Survivors of EVD may experience “post–Ebola virus disease syndrome,” which can include arthralgias, myalgias, fatigue, weight loss, headache, neurocognitive deficits, and psychosocial issues. Uveitis can affect Ebola survivors. In 1 patient, Ebola virus was isolated from aqueous humor 9 weeks after viremia resolved. Iris heterochromia and uveal edema may develop (Fig 11-21). Retinal pigment epithelial cells may be a potential reservoir for the virus. Patients may have episcleritis, interstitial keratitis, anterior uveitis, chorioretinal lesions (Fig 11-22), or optic neuropathy. Uveitis relapses may occur up to 13 months after a negative PCR test on serum.
Excerpted from BCSC 2020-2021 series: Section 9 - Uveitis and Ocular Inflammation. For more information and to purchase the entire series, please visit https://www.aao.org/bcsc.