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Woke Up With Blood Red Eyes And Feverish Feeling. Diagnosed As Viral Infection. What Could Be The Reason?

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Posted on Mon, 27 Aug 2012
Question: Hi my dad woke up last week with blood red eyes and a lousy, feverish feeling. The doctor said it was a viral infection and gave him cefixime antibiotics and gentamicin(genicyn drops). After starting the course of antibiotics, he became even more fatigued and slept throughout. Now just a single antibiotic tablet is left to be taken and he is slowing becoming better but his eyes are still the same, very very red. What could be the reason? Please help.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Neelam Ashish Vanjari (31 minutes later)
Hi,

Thanks for writing in.
Yes, viral illness can give rise to red eyes and feverish feeling.
But there is no need of antibiotics to treat viral infection. Only analgesic and anti-pyretics are enough.
Cefixime are higher antibiotics which itself can give rise feeling of weakness.

With viral infection, redness of eyes should clear up by week or at least it should
reduce.
I am worried as you are mentioning that eyes are still same and red. It looks like eye related condition causing red eyes. If redness is not responding to gentamicin drops, it is not conjuctivitis.

I would recommend you to check for glaucoma which I do not want to miss on , as it can hamper vision. So consult ophthalmologist to rule out glaucoma and other causes of red eyes like blepharitis/iritis/keratitis/corneal ulceration .

I hope I have answered your query. In case of any doubt I shall be happy to help you.
Best regards,
Dr. Neelam.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Neelam Ashish Vanjari (12 hours later)
Hi,
Thanks a lot for the reply. If it is indeed an eye related problem like glaucome,blepharitis etc, will it also cause a feverish feeling like that of a viral infection? Because initially apart from the red eyes, he did have a lousy feeling, which is slowly reducing aftering antibiotics.
Regards,
XXXXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. Neelam Ashish Vanjari (4 hours later)
Hi XXXXXXX,

Thanks for writing in.
Eye related conditions like glaucoma or blepharitis is unlikely to be cause for fever.

As aforementioned, with viral infection; redness of eyes should go off in weeks time. As it still persists, it is better to rule out XXXXXXX conditions first which can hamper vision. I would like to know if anti-biotic course is been completed or not.

Even meningitis or sinusitis, ear problems can cause similar symptoms. But as your father do not have any other symptom, clinical examination will help us to come to diagnosis. I would recommend you to consult ophthalmologist or at least same physician [follow up] to rule out above mentioned conditions.

I hope this information clears your doubt.
Best regards,
Dr. Neelam
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Neelam Ashish Vanjari (12 days later)
Hi,
Sorry for the delay as I had to wait for my dad to pay a visit to the opthalmologist,which was today. The doctor examined his eye and has mentioned that there are some foreign body/particles that are present in the lens of the eye. But he says that the particle is not from outside environment (external), rather they have formed inside(internally). When asked for the name of the disease, he says that is not required and said that its common and can be treated with eye drops. The prescription is as follows:-
a) Pred Dorte ( To be used every half an hour for 3 days)
b)Equimox (Every once in 2 hours for 3 days)
c)Visclear (Every once in 2 hours for 3 days).
It has been three weeks since the redness set in and now the doctor says,slowly improvement can be noticed.
Can you please let me know if this is indeed common and nothing to worry about or is there some other reason for the 'internal sediments' formed in the eye. Is there a name for this? What could have caused this particle. Is it similar to arteries getting blocked due to cholestrol?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Neelam Ashish Vanjari (15 hours later)
Hi,

Thanks for writing in.
The disease name you are asking, sorry but I am not aware of. It is not common for particles to form in lens itself. You can insist your doctor for name of disease, then I can help you.

Best regards,
Dr. Neelam.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Neelam Ashish Vanjari (5 hours later)
Hi,
He says the particles are mutton fat deposits. On googling i think it may be Uveitis. Already the reddening is coming down. If you have any idea, can you let me know if there are any other underlying causes for this. Already in the last two years, my dad has got food poisoning, jaundice and occasional fevers at intervals of few months gap. Otherwise all tests,Ultrasound scan of abdomen are normal as mentioned already. Maybe his immune system is weak?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Neelam Ashish Vanjari (16 hours later)
Hi,

Thanks for writing in.
Mutton fat deposits do occur in uveitis. It's occurrence is closely related to systemic illness named 'sarcoidosis'.
Just make sure your father is not having this underlying disease.
In sarcoidosis, tiny clumps of abnormal tissue (granulomas) form in certain organs of the body. Granulomas are clusters of immune cells.
The disease can affect almost any organ of the body, but it most commonly affects the lungs.Symptoms vary as per the organs involved- skin, lungs, lymph nodes, nervous system, eyes etc.
Imaging like chest x-ray, CT-lung helps to diagnose condition and final confirmation is done with lung biopsy.
As person becomes older, yes immune system does o down; but nutritious diet, exercise helps to maintain the same.
I hope I have cleared your doubt. Revert back, if you need any further clarification.
Best regards,
Dr. Neelam.


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Neelam Ashish Vanjari (1 hour later)
Hi,
Thanks for the reply. A chest x XXXXXXX was done last year and it was found to be normal. But nevertheless, thanks for the information,probably I will make sure one more test is done for confirmation. He does have dry cough that comes only when he takes a bath.The dry cough is severe, but apart from that at other parts of the day, no cough. Will keep you updated.
If it is not sarcoidoisis, could it be something else. I read somewhere that at times, mutton fat deposits have no reason at all.
Regards,
XXXXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. Neelam Ashish Vanjari (2 hours later)
Hi,

Thanks for writing in.
Sarcoidosis is commonest cause for those precipitates. But other possible causes could be multiple sclerosis, tuberculosis and syphilis.
These are just possibilities, clinical examination and investigations help to come to conclusion.

Best regards,
Dr. Neelam.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
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Dr. Neelam Ashish Vanjari

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2007

Answered : 351 Questions

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Woke Up With Blood Red Eyes And Feverish Feeling. Diagnosed As Viral Infection. What Could Be The Reason?

Hi,

Thanks for writing in.
Yes, viral illness can give rise to red eyes and feverish feeling.
But there is no need of antibiotics to treat viral infection. Only analgesic and anti-pyretics are enough.
Cefixime are higher antibiotics which itself can give rise feeling of weakness.

With viral infection, redness of eyes should clear up by week or at least it should
reduce.
I am worried as you are mentioning that eyes are still same and red. It looks like eye related condition causing red eyes. If redness is not responding to gentamicin drops, it is not conjuctivitis.

I would recommend you to check for glaucoma which I do not want to miss on , as it can hamper vision. So consult ophthalmologist to rule out glaucoma and other causes of red eyes like blepharitis/iritis/keratitis/corneal ulceration .

I hope I have answered your query. In case of any doubt I shall be happy to help you.
Best regards,
Dr. Neelam.