Conjunctival Proliferation After a Mild Pepper Spray Injury in a Young Child

Gerber, Simon; Früh Epstein, Beatrice; Tappeiner, Christoph (2011). Conjunctival Proliferation After a Mild Pepper Spray Injury in a Young Child. Cornea, 30(9), pp. 1042-1044. Hagerstown, Md.: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 10.1097/ICO.0b013e318206cad9

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PURPOSE
To report a case of conjunctival proliferation in a 2.5-year-old boy after initial evidence of a mild chemical injury after ocular exposure to pepper spray (oleoresin capsicum).

METHODS
Case report with ophthalmologic and histologic findings.

RESULTS
A child presented with mild conjunctival injection and chemosis without any corneal erosion after direct exposure to pepper spray. Three weeks later, a significant conjunctival proliferation was found at the limbus, which was refractory to treatment with topical corticosteroids. Finally, proliferative tissue was surgically excised without clinical recurrence during 2 months of follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS
We hypothesize that the young age of the patient may have been an important factor for the severe conjunctival proliferation in comparison to a mainly uncomplicated course of pepper spray injuries in most adults. We recommend the use of topical antiinflammatory treatment even in apparently mild pepper spray injuries, especially in young children.

Item Type:	Journal Article (Original Article)
Division/Institute:	04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Head Organs and Neurology (DKNS) > Clinic of Ophthalmology
UniBE Contributor:	Gerber, Simon Daniel, Früh Epstein, Beatrice, Tappeiner, Christoph
Subjects:	600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health
ISSN:	0277-3740
Publisher:	Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Language:	English
Submitter:	Christoph Tappeiner
Date Deposited:	04 Oct 2013 14:12
Last Modified:	05 Dec 2022 14:02
Publisher DOI:	10.1097/ICO.0b013e318206cad9
PubMed ID:	21642850
Web of Science ID:	000293732300019
URI:	https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/2666 (FactScience: 205512)