A Patient With Bilateral Conjunctivitis Positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA in a Conjunctival Sample.
Cornea
; 40(3): 383-386, 2021 Mar 01.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1066450
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE:
To present a patient with bilateral conjunctivitis, testing positive for viral RNA of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in both nasopharyngeal and conjunctival samples.METHODS:
A 40-year-old man with bilateral acute conjunctivitis and suspicious signs of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) presented to the hospital. A detailed ophthalmic examination was performed. Samples obtained from conjunctival and nasopharyngeal swabs were tested by reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 virus. Ocular findings and duration of the presence of viral RNA in the conjunctival specimens were evaluated at follow-up visits.RESULTS:
Slit-lamp biomicroscopy revealed bilateral acute follicular conjunctivitis. The RT-PCR assay demonstrated the presence of viral RNA in the nasopharyngeal and conjunctival specimens at the initial visit and at the 4-day follow-up. Conjunctivitis findings were decreased after 4 days and recovered completely without any sequelae within10 days. The PCR results of both nasopharyngeal and conjunctiva specimens were negative for the viral RNA at 10 days.CONCLUSIONS:
Bilateral conjunctivitis is rare in patients infected with COVID-19. Although it is difficult to detect viral RNA from conjunctival swabs, conjunctival secretions may be a source of contamination, and protective measures must be taken.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
RNA, Viral
/
Eye Infections, Viral
/
Conjunctivitis, Viral
/
Nasopharynx
/
Conjunctiva
/
SARS-CoV-2
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Case report
/
Cohort study
/
Diagnostic study
/
Experimental Studies
/
Prognostic study
Topics:
Long Covid
Limits:
Adult
/
Humans
/
Male
Language:
English
Journal:
Cornea
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
ICO.0000000000002485
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