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Review
. 2023 Mar 4;15(3):676.
doi: 10.3390/v15030676.

Viral Conjunctivitis

Tetsuaya Muto  1   2 , Shinichiro Imaizumi  2 , Koju Kamoi  3
Affiliations
Review

Viral Conjunctivitis

Tetsuaya Muto et al. Viruses. .

Abstract

Viruses account for 80% of all cases of acute conjunctivitis and adenovirus; enterovirus and herpes virus are the common causative agents. In general, viral conjunctivitis spreads easily. Therefore, to control the spread, it is crucial to quickly diagnose illnesses, strictly implement hand washing laws, and sanitize surfaces. Swelling of the lid margin and ciliary injection are subjective symptoms, and eye discharge is frequently serofibrinous. Preauricular lymph node swelling can occasionally occur. Approximately 80% of cases of viral conjunctivitis are caused by adenoviruses. Adenoviral conjunctivitis may become a big global concern and may cause a pandemic. Diagnosis of herpes simplex viral conjunctivitis is crucial for using corticosteroid eye solution as a treatment for adenovirus conjunctivitis. Although specific treatments are not always accessible, early diagnosis of viral conjunctivitis may help to alleviate short-term symptoms and avoid long-term consequences.

Keywords: adenovirus; conjunctivitis; enterovirus; herpes virus.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(A) Ciliary injection and eye discharges around the eyes are seen in both eyes of a patient with EKC. (B) Hard ciliary injection and swelling around the eye are observed in a patient with EKC. These pictures are provided by Dr. Kaoru Araki-Sasaki (Department of Ophthalmology, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata, Japan).
Figure 2
Figure 2
(A) Exanthem is observed on the upper eyelid around the eyebrow caused by VZV. (B) There is a hard ciliary injection and follicle formation in a patient with VZV conjunctivitis. These pictures are provided by Dr. Kaoru Araki-Sasaki (Department of Ophthalmology, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata, Japan).
Figure 3
Figure 3
A diagram shows summary of each disease. The diagram provides a comprehensive summary of various diseases presented in this review, including their underlying causes and available treatments.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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Grants and funding

This research received no external funding.