What is this adenovirus conjunctivitis?
Adenovirus, which causes infection in the upper respiratory tract (flu, cold, etc.), when it infects our eyes through droplets or direct contact with secretions, it condemns us to an eye disease that will bother us for 3 weeks.
What are the symptoms?
Eye redness, burning, watering, stinging and light sensitivity are the symptoms we observe most frequently. Generally, swelling occurs in the lids due to edema. For this reason, we have difficulty opening the affected eye. Sometimes it can cause painful lymph node swelling in front of the ear. Usually one eye is affected more intensely. Burring is not observed unless an additional bacterial infection is added and watering is at the forefront.
How is the Treatment?
Generally symptomatic treatment is given. Washing the eyes frequently with cold water is soothing. Sunglasses reduce light sensitivity. We should definitely not use contact lenses until the disease passes. Tear drops, anti-inflammatory eye drops, and if an additional bacterial infection has developed, antibiotic eye drops are the main treatment options. This disease can sometimes create subepithelial nummular infiltrates (translucent white dots) in the cornea. If these lesions occur on the visual axis, they can also impair our visual acuity. This sometimes requires a treatment lasting 1 week, sometimes months. Very rarely, it can be permanent. If such a situation exists, low dose cortisone drop treatment is also applied.
Is it contagious?
It is absolutely incredibly contagious. All individuals in the house may suddenly become infected with the same disease. For this reason, we should definitely avoid close contact during the illness. Contagiousness continues for approximately 2-3 weeks throughout the disease. We should avoid shaking hands, kissing, or even talking near the sick person. Commonly used face towels at home should be washed immediately and the patient should be advised to use a separate towel. The disease can also be transmitted by sneezing and coughing.
How can we protect ourselves?
It can cause epidemics. We should wash our hands frequently during the summer months when epidemics occur. We should not bring our hands to our face. The eyes of the sick person constantly itch, in this case we should not scratch our eyes with our hands. Wipe off water with a tissue That tissue should be thrown away immediately and washed by hand with plenty of soapy water. The sick person should not shake hands or kiss anyone.
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