Epstein–Barr Virus-Associated Acute Dacryocystic Retention

ABSTRACT

Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) associated dacryocystic retention presents with an acute swelling in the lacrimal sac area with epiphora and lymphadenopathy. The patient would usually have a preceding history of infectious mononucleosis with clinical features of fever, pharyngitis, preauricular and cervical lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, subclinical hepatitis, nausea, and palatine petechiae. The present case is of a 3-year-old child who presented with a sudden painless swelling in the lacrimal sac region with epiphora. Investigations and a biopsy helped in establishing the diagnosis of EBV-associated dacryocystic retention which resolved completely with conservative management.

KEYWORDS:

• Acute dacryocystitis
• Epstein–Barr virus
• lacrimal
• lacrimal sac
• nasolacrimal duct
• PCR

Disclosure statement

Dr Mohammad Javed Ali receives royalties from Springer for the textbook “Principles and Practice of Lacrimal Surgery” and for the treatise “Atlas of Lacrimal Drainage Disorders.”

Additional information

Funding

Hyderabad Eye Research Foundation