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Adenoviral keratoconjunctivitis

AI overview

Adenoviral keratoconjunctivitis, also known as epidemic keratoconjunctivitis, is a contagious eye infection caused by adenoviruses.

Key points
  • It is a common and highly contagious viral infection of the eye.
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    Common and highly contagious viral infection of the eye
  • It is commonly caused by types 8 and 37 adenoviruses.
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    It is commonly caused by types 8 and 37 adenoviruses .
  • Transmission occurs through contaminated eye examination instruments, eye solutions, touching infected eyes, inadequately chlorinated swimming pools, or other contaminated objects.
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    Transmission is by contaminated eye examination instruments and eye solutions, touching eyes of infected people, inadequately chlorinated swimming pools, or other contaminated objects .
  • The incubation period is around five to 10 days.
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    The incubation period is around five to 10 days.
  • Adults tend to be affected more frequently than children.
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    Adults tend to be affected more frequently than children.
Symptoms
  • Sudden onset of red eye, watery discharge, and a feeling that something is in the eye.
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    sudden onset of red eye, watery discharge , and a feeling that something is in the eye.
  • Photophobia, blurred vision, and lymphadenopathy by the ear nearest the affected eye.
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    Photophobia develops with blurred vision and lymphadenopathy by the ear nearest the affected eye.
  • Pharyngitis and rhinitis, mainly in adults.
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    typically associated with a pharyngitis and rhinitis , mainly in adults.
  • In very young children, it can present with high fever, sore throat, ear infection, vomiting, and diarrhea.
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    in very young children can present with a high fever , sore throat, ear infection , vomiting and diarrhea .
Diagnosis
  • Diagnosis is done using cell culture with immunofluorescence staining and PCR.
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    diagnosis of adenoviral keratoconjunctivitis is done using cell culture (with immunofluorescence staining) and PCR.
  • Differential diagnosis includes herpes simplex type I, Acanthamoeba, and fungal infection.
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    It may appear similar to herpes simplex type I , Acanthamoeba , and fungal infection .
Treatment
  • Treatment is supportive, usually involving lubricating eye drops and cold compresses.
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    Treatment of adenoviral conjunctivitis is supportive , usually involving lubricating eye drops and cold compresses .
  • Antihistamines may help alleviate severe itching.
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    In cases of severe itching, antihistamines may help alleviate symptoms.
  • Antibiotics are rarely prescribed to prevent secondary infections.
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    Antibiotics are rarely prescribed to prevent secondary infections.
  • Topical ganciclovir may be prescribed off-label for compelling cases, particularly when corneal lesions are noted.
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    clinical evidence that topical ganciclovir is effective against at least adenovirus serotype 8, thus compelling many clinicians to prescribe this agent off-label for compelling cases of epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (EKC), particularly when corneal lesions are noted.
Red flags
  • Corneal scarring occurs in up to half of cases.
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    Corneal scarring occurs in up to half of cases
  • Blurred vision may continue for a long time in some people.
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    blurred vision may continue for a long time in some people.
  • The virus may remain in the eye for two to three years after recovering.
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    The virus may remain in the eye for two to three years after recovering.
Prognosis

Usually, the condition resolves after 7 to 10 days without treatment, but corneal scarring occurs in up to half of cases and blurred vision may continue for a long time. The virus may remain in the eye for two to three years after recovering.

AI-synthesized from the Wikipedia article “Adenoviral keratoconjunctivitis”. Not medical advice. Verify source →
Keratoconjunctivitis
Other namesKeratoconjunctivitis epidemica
Adenoviral Keratoconjunctivitis
SpecialtyOphthalmology, infectious diseases
SymptomsRed eye, discomfort/irritation, sensitivity to light, watering, blurred vision, discharge[1]
ComplicationsCorneal scarring[2]
Usual onsetSudden in an adult[3]
Duration7–10 days, can be longer[3]
CausesAdenoviruses, commonly types 8 and 37[3]
Diagnostic methodVisualisation, viral culture (with immunofluorescence staining), PCR (to detect viral DNA)[3]
Differential diagnosisHerpes simplex type I, acanthamoeba, fungal infection[4]
PreventionHand washing[3]
TreatmentCold compress, artificial tears[2]
FrequencyEpidemics, common, adults>children[2]

Adenoviral keratoconjunctivitis, also known as epidemic keratoconjunctivitis, is a contagious eye infection, a type of adenovirus disease caused by adenoviruses.[1] It typically presents as a conjunctivitis with a sudden onset of a painful red eye, watery discharge and feeling that something is in the eye.[3] Photophobia develops with blurred vision and lymphadenopathy by the ear nearest the affected eye.[2] It is often associated with a sore throat and stuffy and runny nose, mainly in adults.[3] A type of adenoviral keratoconjunctivitis in very young children can present with a high fever, sore throat, ear infection, vomiting and diarrhea.[3]

It is commonly caused by types 8 and 37 adenoviruses. Transmission is by contaminated eye examination instruments and eye solutions, touching eyes of infected people, inadequately chlorinated swimming pools, or other contaminated objects.[3] The incubation period is around five to 10 days.[3]

Usually, the condition resolves after 7 to 10 days without treatment.[3] Cold compresses and artificial tears may help.[2] Corneal scarring occurs in up to half of cases and the blurred vision may continue for a long time in some people.[2] The virus may remain in the eye for two to three years after recovering.[3]

It is a common cause of a red eye and tends to occur in large numbers of people at the same time.[2] Adults tend to be affected more frequently than children.[3]

Adenoviral keratoconjunctivitis typically presents as a conjunctivitis with a sudden onset of red eye, watery discharge, and a feeling that something is in the eye.[3] Photophobia develops with blurred vision and lymphadenopathy by the ear nearest the affected eye.[2] It is typically associated with a pharyngitis and rhinitis, mainly in adults.[3] A type of adenoviral keratoconjunctivitis in very young children can present with a high fever, sore throat, ear infection, vomiting and diarrhea.[3]

The diagnosis of adenoviral keratoconjunctivitis is done using cell culture (with immunofluorescence staining) and PCR.[4]

Differential diagnosis

It may appear similar to herpes simplex type I, Acanthamoeba, and fungal infection.[4]

Adequate infection control measures should be followed as prevention and to reduce epidemic AKC outbreaks.[5]

Treatment of adenoviral conjunctivitis is supportive, usually involving lubricating eye drops and cold compresses. In cases of severe itching, antihistamines may help alleviate symptoms. Antibiotics are rarely prescribed to prevent secondary infections. There is clinical evidence that topical ganciclovir is effective against at least adenovirus serotype 8, thus compelling many clinicians to prescribe this agent off-label for compelling cases of epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (EKC), particularly when corneal lesions are noted.[6]

Globally it is the most common cause of a red eye and tends to occur in large numbers of people at the same time.[2] Adults tend to be affected more frequently than children.[3]

  1. 1 2 Burrow, Michael K.; Patel, Bhupendra C. (2022). "Keratoconjunctivitis". StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. PMID 31194419.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Bawazeer, Ahmed (4 June 2019). "Epidemic Keratoconjunctivitis (EKC)". Medscape. Archived from the original on 21 April 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Shieh, Wun-Ju (10 September 2021). "Human adenovirus infections in pediatric population - An update on clinico-pathologic correlation". Biomedical Journal. 45 (1): S2319–4170(21)00109–8. doi:10.1016/j.bj.2021.08.009. ISSN 2320-2890. PMC 9133246. PMID 34506970. S2CID 237479412.
  4. 1 2 3 Pihos, Andria M. (April 2013). "Epidemic keratoconjunctivitis: A review of current concepts in management". Journal of Optometry. 6 (2): 69–74. doi:10.1016/j.optom.2012.08.003. ISSN 1888-4296. PMC 3880539.
  5. ↑ Reinhard, Thomas; Larkin, Frank (28 January 2006). Cornea and External Eye Disease. Springer. ISBN 9783540312260. Archived from the original on 11 January 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  6. ↑ Viral Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye): Practice Essentials, Background, Etiology. 28 March 2025.