Background: Infection due to
Chlamydia pneumoniae
is typically mild pneumonia or bronchitis. The location of this Pathogen in the eye or its related structures is exceptional. We report the orbital extension of pneumonia caused by this pathogen in the context of HIV/AIDS.
Methods: A 35 year-old patient, infected with HIV1, on anti retroviral drugs for 3 years, consulted our department for the unilateral exophthalmos and fever. The onset of symptoms was about 7 days.
Results: The review noted: right blindness, exophthalmos, complete homolateral ophthalmoplegia, bronchial rales, and fever at 38.5°C. The chest radiograph was normal; the scanner was unremarkable apart from edema of orbital tissues. Laboratory tests had revealed unremarkable (blood count, intra dermoréaction to tuberculin, sputum and nasal secretions in search of a germ, blood culture, syphilis serology, Lyme serology) to the except for a very rapid sedimentation rate, a low CD4 count and a positive
Chlamydia serology. Pulmonary symptoms observed in the patient supported the aetiology of an infection due to
Chlamydia pneumoniae, hence the diagnosis of orbital extent of a pulmonary infection due to
Chlamydia pneumoniae. The death occurred on the 5th day of hospitalization in a context of acute hepatorenal failure.
Conclusion: The Clinical expression of certain pathogens usually less aggressive can be totally changed in context of HIV/AIDS