Prevalence of COVID19 in Conjunctivitis patients attended ophthalmic department Balad General Hospital

Abstract

Background: COVID19 is a disease result from the infection by SARS-COV2virus that was first discovered in china \Wuhan- City, in 12\ 2019. COVID19, Previously recognized as respiratory sickness caused by the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCOV) was formally announced in February via the World Health Organization (WHO). Aim: to determine the prevalence of COVID19 in conjunctivitis patients attended ophthalmic department, balad general hospital. Patients and methods: All patients attended general balad hospital ophthalmic department between june2021 and Jan 2022 randomly examined. This cross sectional study  contain of  343 conjunctivitis patients, 35 patients with the diagnosis of COVID19 conjunctivitis were identified prevalence of COVID 19 conjunctivitis  of conjunctivitis patients10.2%(95% confidence interval (1.4to1.9) . Visual acuity testing also an exterior inspection, slit-lamp bio microscopy, and diagnostic testing are the four important parts of the initial eye examination for individuals with conjunctivitis. By inspection in a well-lit room with special notes to: skin, local lymphadenopathy (especially preauricular), anomalies of the eyelids and adnexa (swelling, discolouration, malposition), and conjunctival discharge. By using slit-lamp bio microscopy with special notes to: Eyelid margin "inflammation, ulceration, discharge, nodules or vesicles, keratinization" lashes on the eyes (nits, lice, crusting, scurf), Canaliculi and lacrimal puncta (pouting, discharge) tarsal and forniceal conjunctiva (appearance and volume of papillae, cysts; cicatricle shifts, involving symblepharon and foreshortening; membranes and pseudo membranes; inflammation; hemorrhages; foreign particles; granulomas); cicatricle shifts, including foreshortening and symblepharon; membranes and pseudo membranes; ulceration Conjunctiva/limbus of the bulbar conjunctiva, (vascular injection [hyperemia], (follicles, masses, chemosis, cysts, papillae, ulcers, scars, phlyctenules, hemorrhages, foreign particles, keratinization), Cornea is a type of corneum "epithelial erosions; punctate and dendritic epithelial keratitis; filaments; ulceration; infiltration, including sub epithelial infiltrates and phlyctenules; vascularization; keratic precipitates". Frontal Chamber: (Iris (inflammatory response, involving synechiae and Trans illumination deficiencies). COVID19-like symptoms, occupational risks, contact with affected patients and recent travel were all reasons for people to be tested for conjunctivitis.

The most common laboratory tests used to identify COVID19-conjunctivitis are serology and RT-PCR. Before a patient to be considered safe, he must have two consecutive negative RT-PCR test results. A particular but less sensitive approach is "RT-PCR" in the diagnosis of COVID conjunctivitis. RESULT: prevalence of COVID 19 in our study related to conjunctivitis patients was: 10.2 %( 95% interval of confidence) [CI]:(1.4to1.9). 23 male(65.7%) and 12 female (34.3%) presented with age group between 45years to 76 years. 35 COVID19 conjunctivitis ,the unilateral cases were 25 (71.4%) compare to bilateral cases were 10(28.6%). The severity of COVID 19conjunctivitis, moderate 18 cases (51.4%), compare to mild 9cases (25.7%) and severe 5 cases (14.3%), only 7cases (20%) need admission to hospital compare to non-hospitalized 28 cases (80%) preauricular lymphadenopathy was the most common associated finding with COVID19 conjunctivitis 18 cases (51.4%), followed by hemorrhagic conjunctivitis 5 cases (14.3%), and lid swelling 3 cases (8.6%), while dacryoadenitis /preseptal cellulitis and pseudomembranous conjunctivitis only one case each (2.9%). The posterior segment finding after dilated fundus exam, only two cases (5.7%) presented with blurred vision due to optic neuritis/acute retinal necrosis. Conclusion: The study's objective was to determine the COVID19 prevalence rate, in conjunctivitis cases in order to avoid underestimating COVID19 prevalence in a region with stringent regulations and a scarcity of ophthalmological consultations. It's possible that conjunctivitis is the first sign of viral infection. It may have a distinct clinical appearance or be linked to other ocular findings involving the anterior or posterior segments of the eye.