Epidemic Keratoconjunctivitis

Aka: Epidemic Keratoconjunctivitis, EKC

II. Epidemiology

  1. Extremely contagious form of Viral Conjunctivitis
  2. Summer outbreaks most common
  3. Virus is shed for 14 days

III. Causes

  1. Adenovirus subtypes

IV. Symptoms

  1. Marked Conjunctival Hyperemia
  2. Epiphora (Eye tearing)
  3. Onset in one eye that spreads to the other
  4. Eye Pain (if Corneal involvement)
  5. Blurred Vision

V. Signs

  1. Chemosis (Edema of Conjunctiva around the Cornea)
  2. Superficial viral Corneal infiltrates

VI. Complications

  1. Decreased Visual Acuity
    1. Results from Corneal infiltrates (viral particles enter the anterior chamber)
    2. Can last for months
    3. May reduce vision to 20/200

VII. Course

  1. Resolution in 2 to 8 weeks
  2. Eye Pain may persist for more than a month
  3. Contagious for 14 days after the start of symptoms in the second eye

VIII. Management

  1. No specific treatment
  2. Corneal infiltrates with Decreased Visual Acuity:
    1. Topical Steroids
    2. Ophthalmology referral for serial exams
  3. Prevent spread to other patients
    1. Wear gloves and wash hands frequently
    2. Wash equipment between Eye Exams
      1. Wash hand towels in hot water
      2. Clean Tonometer carefully
    3. Avoid contamination of ophthalmic solutions

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Related Studies

Ontology: Epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (C0014493)

Concepts Disease or Syndrome (T047)
ICD9 077.1
ICD10 B30.0
SnomedCT 60548004
Dutch epidemische keratoconjunctivitis
French Kératoconjonctivite épidémique
German epidemische Keratokonjunktivitis
Italian Cheratocongiuntivite epidemica
Portuguese Queratoconjuntivite epidémica
Spanish Queratoconjuntivitis epidémica, ojo de astillero, queratoconjuntivitis epidémica (trastorno), queratoconjuntivitis epidémica
Japanese 流行性角結膜炎, ﾘｭｳｺｳｾｲｶｸｹﾂﾏｸｴﾝ
English EKC - Epidem keratoconjunctiv, epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (diagnosis), shipyard eye (diagnosis), shipyard eye, epidemic keratoconjunctivitis, Epidem keratoconjunctiv, keratoconjunctivitis virus, Epidemic keratoconjunctivitis, Shipyard eye, EKC - Epidemic keratoconjunctivitis, Epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (disorder), Virus keratoconjunctivitis, virus keratoconjunctivitis, Epidemic Keratoconjunctivitis, EKC
Czech Epidemická keratokonjunktivitida
Hungarian Epidemiás keratoconjunctivitis
Derived from the NIH UMLS (Unified Medical Language System)

Related Topics in Conjunctival Disorders

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