Natural history of adenoviral conjunctivitis in a US-based population: Viral load, signs, and symptoms

• Published in: Contact lens & anterior eye Vol. 47; no. 2; p. 102110
• Main Authors: Harthan, Jennifer S., Than, Tammy, Shorter, Ellen, Hartwick, Andrew T.E., Morettin, Christina E., Huecker, Julia B., Johnson, Spencer D., Migneco, Mary K., Whiteside, Meredith, Olson, Christian K., Alferez, Christopher S., van Zyl, Tavé, Gordon, Mae O.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2024
• Subjects: Adenovirus; Conjunctivitis; Natural history; Adenovirus; Natural history; Conjunctivitis
• ISSN: 1367-0484; 1476-5411
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clae.2023.102110

To report the clinical signs, symptoms, and viral clearance in individuals in the United States with adenoviral conjunctivitis (Ad-Cs). Individuals ≥ 18 years presenting within 4 days of symptoms of Ad-Cs who met eligibility criteria and tested positive with both point-of-care immunoassay antigen and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) testing were enrolled. Patient-reported symptoms, clinician-graded signs, and qPCR viral titers were collected at baseline, days 1–2, 4 (days 3–5), 7 (days 6–10), 14 (days 11–17) and 21 (days 18–21). There was no detectable viral titers by the day 14 visit in 6/8 patients. By day 21, there was no detectable viral titers in the 7 participants who completed the visit; however, signs and symptoms persisted including: blurry vision (5/7), discomfort (2/7) or redness (1/7). Masked clinicians also noted conjunctival redness (4/7), follicular conjunctivitis (4/7) and bulbar edema (3/7). Many patient-reported symptoms and clinical signs persist after viral titers are no longer detectable by qPCR. Using clinical signs and symptoms to determine quarantine duration may result in patients being furloughed longer than the time that the patient is infectious.