I. What is pink eye?
Epidemic keratoconjunctivitis is a contact infection caused by adenovirus infection, commonly known as “pink eye”, which is highly contagious and has caused epidemics around the world, and is more common in small-scale epidemics, often in schools, factories and families and other crowded places.
Second, the cause of the disease?
Caused by adenovirus infection.
Third, the prevalence of season and transmission channels.
Can occur throughout the year, more likely to be prevalent in the summer. The disease is transmitted by contact, such as through the patient’s hands, eye secretions, common towels, door handles, etc..
IV. Clinical manifestations.
The disease is similar to general influenza, incubation period of 5 to 12 days, the onset of monocular, 2 to 7 days later the other eye is also involved, the disease reaches its peak at 5 to 7 days, after which it enters the recovery period, the entire course of the disease is about 2 to 3 weeks.
(1) Systemic manifestations: fever, sore throat, diarrhea, upper respiratory tract infection, pneumonia, etc. Mostly seen in children, adults rarely have systemic symptoms. Patients have enlarged preauricular and submandibular lymph nodes with pressure pain.
(2) Local manifestations: early discomfort such as grinding, pain, photophobia and lacrimation. There is more secretion, and it is not easy to open the eyes when waking up in the early morning, and some patients have different degrees of vision loss.
(3) Conjunctival lesions: conjunctival congestion and edema, large number of follicles forming in the lid conjunctiva, and pseudomembrane formation in the lid conjunctiva in some patients.
(4) Keratoconjunctival lesions: 2 to 3 weeks after onset, some patients develop a variable number of round dot-like infiltrates, grayish white, round or semicircular, under the corneal epithelium. Dotted infiltrative lesions are often gradually absorbed over weeks or months, or even years. If it occurs in the pupillary area, it can lead to varying degrees of vision loss.
V. Diagnosis
Diagnosis is made on the basis of clinical features such as acute follicular conjunctivitis and subepithelial infiltrates of the cornea that appear later in the disease, and systemic manifestations such as large and painful preauricular lymph nodes.
6. You should go to the hospital immediately when the following conditions occur
1.When many people around you have the disease and you also have the same symptoms
2.Redness and swelling of both eyes, with a lot of secretions
3.After treatment, the condition improves, but vision decreases
VII. Treatment.
1.There are no specific drugs for adenovirus, the commonly used antiviral drugs include 4% morpholine double quat, acyclovir, and ganciclovir eye drops, but the therapeutic effect of these antiviral drugs is not yet certain.
2, local cold compresses and the use of vasoconstrictors, can make the eye congestion reduced, to relieve symptoms.
3, glucocorticoids: local application can reduce symptoms, while preventing or reducing the occurrence of corneal lesions, generally continue to use 2 weeks or according to the condition of the drug.
4, available eye surface lubricants or artificial tears to treat keratoconus and relieve symptoms; at the same time, oral vitamin B2, B6, etc.
VIII. Prognosis.
1, generally timely treatment, the prognosis is good.
2, the appearance of keratoconus patients, vision can receive varying degrees of impact, after treatment most patients can restore vision.
3, some patients can develop dry eye.
IX. Prevention.
1, the prevention of the good season
Avoid contact with patients with epidemic keratoconjunctivitis as much as possible
Do not rub your eyes with your hands, wipe with a clean towel or toilet paper
Do not use towels in public places to wipe your eyes
During the epidemic period, avoid going to public swimming pools as much as possible
2. After the disease
Adenovirus can survive at room temperature for more than 10 days, so it is recommended to isolate for 2 to 3 weeks after getting sick.
Self-isolation should be done after the disease and avoid going to public places as much as possible.
Disinfect used towels by boiling, and disinfect surfaces touched with disinfectant.
Separate towels and washbasins from family members.
Pay attention to the cleanliness of your hands, especially wash your hands thoroughly immediately after ordering medicine or touching your eyes.
When resting, lie on your side towards the affected eye to avoid infection of the eye with secretions.
Do not share the same eye drops with others
Ten, common misconceptions.
1, frequent antiviral eye drops during the disease
Because there is no effective drug for adenovirus, plus the clinical use of antiviral drugs have toxic damage to the corneal epithelium, so it is not advisable to frequent eye drops, should be used under the guidance of a doctor.
2, after one eye disease, the other eye also began at the same time to spot drug prevention
After the disease of one eye, to the other eye is not yet sick, will increase the chance of infection through the hands, eye medicine bottles or eye drops, while the preventive effect of antiviral drugs itself is not yet certain, so there is no need to prevent the use of drugs.
3, patients who have had epidemic keratoconjunctivitis can no longer get the disease.
People who have had epidemic acute conjunctivitis are not immune to the disease and also need to pay attention to prevent re-infection.
4. It does not affect vision
Patients with corneal involvement may experience varying degrees of vision loss, especially if the corneal lesion appears in the pupil area.
5. Frequent follow-up visits to the hospital are required
Epidemic keratoconjunctivitis is highly contagious, so minimize unnecessary eye exams and stop the medication when the condition improves. If there are changes in the condition, such as decreased vision and increased eye redness, you should visit the hospital promptly.