Valeria Mocanu1, Dharmesh Bhagwani2, Abhinav Sharma3,4,5, Claudia Borza6, Ciprian Ilie Rosca5,7, Morariu Stelian4,8, Shalini Bhagwani9, Laura Haidar10, Lajwanti Kshtriya11, Nilima Rajpal Kundnani5,10,11, Florin-Raul Horhat12, Raluca Horhat13. 1. Department of Ophthalmology, EYE-ENT Senzory-Tumoral Research Centre, Victor Babeș University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania. 2. AMC MET Medical College, LG Hospital, Ahmedabad, India. 3. Department of Cardiology, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania. 4. Department of Occupational Medicine, Municipal Emergency University Hospital, Arad, Romania. 5. Family Physician Clinic, Teremia Mare, Romania. 6. Department of Functional Science, Discipline of Physiopathology, Center for Translational Research and Systems Medicine, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania. 7. Department of Internal Medicine, Centre for Advanced Research in Cardiovascular Pathology and Hemostasis, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania. 8. Department of Occupational Medicine, Vasile Goldis West University, Arad, Romania. 9. ESIC Hospital, Ahmedabad, India. 10. Department of Functional Sciences, Physiology, Centre of Immuno-Physiology and Biotechnologies, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania. 11. Shreeji Clinic, Ahmedabad, India. 12. Department of Functional Science, Medical Informatics and Biostatistics, "Victor Babeș" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania. 13. Department of Functional Science, Biophysics, "Victor Babeș" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: COVID-19 has varied clinical manifestations, from asymptomatic to severe cases, and conjunctivitis is one of them, but sometimes a lone initial symptom is found to be present. The aim of this study was to identify the prevalence of conjunctivitis as the first symptom in COVID-19 patients in a primary healthcare unit. METHODOLOGY: A retrospective study was conducted, analyzing the presenting complains/symptoms and results of COVID-19-confirmatory tests. RESULTS: Out of the 672 cases that were sent for RT-PCR testing, only 121 (18%) were found to be positive. Among these, 2.67% patients had both conjunctivitis and COVID-19, 77.77% patients had unilateral eye affected, while 22.22% had bilateral conjunctivitis of varying degrees. Fifteen patients diagnosed to have both acute conjunctivitis and COVID-19 presented other symptoms associated with COVID-19 infection. Three patients had only acute conjunctivitis during their entire course of COVID-19. CONCLUSIONS: Conjunctivitis is a symptom of COVID-19 and may be the first sign of the infection, until the onset of the classical manifestations; such patients may continue to be a viral reservoir. Physicians should not miss unilateral conjunctivitis as it can be the only presenting complaint of COVID-19 during the initial phase, which might worsen if undetected and can aid in the spread of the contagion.
OBJECTIVES: COVID-19 has varied clinical manifestations, from asymptomatic to severe cases, and conjunctivitis is one of them, but sometimes a lone initial symptom is found to be present. The aim of this study was to identify the prevalence of conjunctivitis as the first symptom in COVID-19 patients in a primary healthcare unit. METHODOLOGY: A retrospective study was conducted, analyzing the presenting complains/symptoms and results of COVID-19-confirmatory tests. RESULTS: Out of the 672 cases that were sent for RT-PCR testing, only 121 (18%) were found to be positive. Among these, 2.67% patients had both conjunctivitis and COVID-19, 77.77% patients had unilateral eye affected, while 22.22% had bilateral conjunctivitis of varying degrees. Fifteen patients diagnosed to have both acute conjunctivitis and COVID-19 presented other symptoms associated with COVID-19 infection. Three patients had only acute conjunctivitis during their entire course of COVID-19. CONCLUSIONS: Conjunctivitis is a symptom of COVID-19 and may be the first sign of the infection, until the onset of the classical manifestations; such patients may continue to be a viral reservoir. Physicians should not miss unilateral conjunctivitis as it can be the only presenting complaint of COVID-19 during the initial phase, which might worsen if undetected and can aid in the spread of the contagion.
Authors: M Tunescu; R Christodorescu; A Sharma; C R Barsac; A F Rogobete; D C Crisan; S E Popovici; N R Kundnani; D Sandesc; O Bedreag Journal: Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci Date: 2021-12 Impact factor: 3.507
Authors: Tracy H T Lai; Emily W H Tang; Sandy K Y Chau; Kitty S C Fung; Kenneth K W Li Journal: Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol Date: 2020-03-03 Impact factor: 3.535