Bilateral optic neuritis following smallpox vaccination and diphtheria-tetanus toxoid.

Abstract

OPTIC NEURITIS accompanying encephalitis is rare but well-established complication of smallpox and antirabic vaccination. 1 Optic neuritis without central symptoms is, however, an extremely rare complication of immunization procedures. Duke-Elder, 2 noting the reports of Cormack and Anderson 3 and Hasabe, 4 states that a severe neuritis without necessarily other central symptoms but involving abolition of light may follow an antirabic inoculation . In 1949, Ross 5 decribed one case and Siegert 6 three cases of bilateral optic neuritis following the administration of diphtheria toxoid. Following is the report of case of bilateral optic neuritis which followed simultaneous smallpox vaccination and combined diphtheria-tetanus toxoid administration. REPORT OF CASE A 7-year-old white girl was brought to the hospital on May 13, 1952, complaining of sudden decrease in visual acuity of three days' duration. She had no other complaints, and her parents had noted no symptoms of any illness. Further