[Bloody tears: About a case and a review of the literature].

Introduction: Hemolacria is a rare hemorrhagic syndrome characterized by bloody tears. The most common etiologies are inflammation, infection or laceration. However, other rarer diseases may also cause this clinical manifestation.

Case Report: We describe the case of a 14-year-old male patient hospitalized for hemolacria. A history of von Willebrand disease was present in his family, diagnosed in his mother and sister, but absent in our patient. A vitamin C dosage was obtained in our patient and revealed scurvy consecutive to malnutrition. After having excluded other bleeding symptoms like bruises we retained vitamin C deficiency as the etiology of the hemorrhagic syndrome.

Conclusion: Bloody tears are a rare clinical manifestation and the etiology may be difficult to determine. Bloody tears are a rare clinical manifestation of hemorrhagic syndrome. To determine the underlying etiology, screening should consider all possible causes including the rarest.