Unequal pupils may indicate which of the following conditions?

Unequal pupils, a condition known as anisocoria, can indicate significant underlying issues, particularly related to the brain. A brain injury may lead to changes in pupil size due to increased intracranial pressure or damage to the neural pathways that control pupil size. For instance, a traumatic brain injury can cause an imbalance in the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, resulting in one pupil being larger or smaller than the other.

While other conditions can affect pupils, they typically do not lead to the same clear and critical indicator of potential brain trauma as anisocoria does. Severe allergic reactions, while potentially causing other symptoms such as swelling and respiratory distress, usually do not cause unequal pupils. An eye infection might present with symptoms like redness or discharge but would not typically alter pupil size. High fever can have various systemic effects, but again, it is not a direct cause of unequal pupil size.

Understanding this connection helps in recognizing the potential severity of a situation where unequal pupils are observed, making it an important sign to assess in clinical practice.