Disease name: Herpes simplex virus refractory keratitis

ICD-10 Disease Code: B00.52 - Herpes viral keratitis

ICD-10 Disease Group: B00 - Herpesviral [herpes simplex] infections

Keratitis refers to corneal infections that result in corneal ulcers, open sores in the outer layer of the cornea. Keratitis may be categorised as acanthamoeba keratitis, fungal keratitis or herpes simplex keratitis.

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) keratitis is a viral infection of the cornea caused by HSV, primarily HSV type I. It often stems from reactivation of an earlier HSV infection, commonly affecting the mouth or face. While most cases heal without lasting damage, severe infections can cause corneal scarring, vision loss, or blindness, making HSV keratitis a leading global cause of blindness.

Nearly 90% of people are exposed to HSV-1, often in childhood, although not all develop HSV keratitis. Recurrences are more likely in individuals with previous infections, especially those wearing contact lenses or those exposed to triggers such as stress or UV light.

Symptoms of keratitis include eye pain, redness, blurred vision, sensitivity to light, excessive tearing, and a feeling of something in the eye. Other signs may include eyelids that do not close fully (such as in Bell's palsy), foreign bodies in the eye, scratches or abrasions on the corneal surface, severely dry eyes, severe allergic eye disease, and various inflammatory disorders.

Treatment depends on severity and may include anti-viral medications, antibiotic eye drops, or corneal scraping to remove diseased cells. Severe cases with scarring may require a corneal transplant. There is no cure for HSV, but preventive measures, such as avoiding eye contact with active lesions and using prophylactic antivirals, can reduce recurrences.

• https://www.icd10data.com/
• https://www.orpha.net/consor/cgi-bin/index.php
• https://rarediseases.org/
• https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/
• https://www.cdc.gov/

Tags

Herpes Simplex Keratitis