Epidemic keratoconjunctivitis

Epidemic keratoconjunctivitis is a viral inflammation of the cornea and cornea caused by a virus from the group of adenoviruses. It is highly contagious, most often transmitted by direct contact with secretions from the eye of an infected person. It usually occurs inside closed collectives such as schools, hospitals, work collectives, kindergartens, camps.

The disease can be preceded by flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, chills, pain in muscles, joints, increased secretion from the nose, cough. In anamnestic data, contact in the family or at work with a person with similar symptoms is often mentioned.

Incubation, that is, the time that elapses from infection to the appearance of the first symptoms is 2-14 days, and the person is contagious for 10-14 days. The disease manifests itself first in one eye, and after a few days, in most cases (60%), it affects the other eye, with a milder clinical picture. The symptoms of the disease are redness of the eyes, tearing, increased secretion, sensitivity to light, the feeling of the presence of a foreign body, a decrease in visual acuity with stronger involvement of the cornea, and in almost all cases there is also preauricular lymphadenopathy, i.e. enlargement of the lymph glands in front of the auricle. 

Patients should be very careful not to transmit the infection to people around them. It is necessary to avoid contact with people, not to share towels, bed linen, handkerchiefs or any items for personal hygiene. It is necessary to wash your hands often as long as the eye is red. Infected persons must not go to work, school, kindergarten, etc. two weeks from the appearance of the first symptoms.

The prognosis of the disease is good, the disease passes spontaneously and the treatment is aimed at alleviating the symptoms. In therapy, cold compresses, artificial tears, antibiotics are used to prevent secondary bacterial infection, and corticosteroids in case of changes in the cornea.