Epidemic Keratoconjunctivitis is highly contagious viral eye infection. It is also called as viral conjunctivitis or EKC. It results in inflammation of the conjunctiva and cornea. EKC occurs commonly in places such as hospitals, office environments and schools, where close human contact is seen.
Epidemic Keratoconjunctivitis causes
It is caused by adenovirus. It can be transmitted by air droplets, swimming pools and mostly through direct contact with any fluids or tears from infected eyes.
Symptoms of viral conjunctivitis
- People with this infection usually have symptoms like eye redness, soreness, excessive tearing, irritation and light sensitivity.
- It gives discomfort as if a foreign body or piece of sand entered into the eye.
- Eye and eyelid may become swollen.
- Virus usually infects one eye first, later infects the other one.
- People infected with viral conjunctivitis may have blurred vision for many days.
Treatment of viral conjunctivitis
- Antibiotic medicines do not work well in treating EKC.
- In mild cases, mostly doctors prescribe artificial tears, vasoconstrictors and cold compresses.
- In severe cases, doctors prescribe steroid eye drops.
- If pseudo membranes develop, they are removed depending on their severity.
Viral eye infection in children
- Catching cold makes the child more prone to have an eye infection.
- Sometimes, exposure to smoke, household chemicals, dust, pollen, blocked tear ducts and eye injuries may also cause conjunctivitis symptoms in children.
- Reaction to few medicinal eye drops also may cause reddening or swelling of eyes.
- If the mother is said to have sexually transmitted diseases such as chlamydia or gonorrhea, the disease may transmit to the child by the mother. Though it is rare, it may also be one of the reason to cause conjunctivitis symptoms.
Eye infection in babies is common but have to be careful and treated as early as possible. If not it may worsen more and result in vision impairment.
