Bilateral Bartonella henselae neuroretinitis with stellate maculopathy in a 6-year-old boy.

PURPOSE

Bartonella henselae, the cause of cat-scratch disease in humans, may lead to characteristic vision-threatening ocular findings, which importantly indicate diagnosis.

METHODS

This is an observational case report of a 6-year-old boy who presented with bilateral stellate maculopathy and lymphadenopathy.

RESULTS

After serologic verification of B. henselae infection, systemic azithromycin therapy initiated the full recovery of visual acuity and bilateral complete resolution of stellate exudates during the following months.

CONCLUSION

Stellate maculopathy should always include the differential diagnosis of B. henselae infection. In this rare case of bilateral stellate maculopathy, we observed full recovery of function following systemic macrolide therapy.