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WHAT IS ADENOVIRUS (CONJUNCTIVITIS)? HERE IS INFORMATION ABOUT CONJUNCTIVITIS
Decrying a high increase in the number of cases of conjunctivitis, also popularly known as red eye disease, in recent weeks, experts have issued several warnings to citizens are available. So, what is Adenovirus (conjunctivitis)?
Adenoviruses, which are known to cause respiratory diseases, also cause serious infections in the eye. Head of the Ocular Infection Unit of the Turkish Ophthalmological Association Prof. Dr. in recent weeks, there has been a serious increase in the level of epidemic (epidemic) cases of adenovirus-related conjunctivitis (inflammation of the eyes), he warned. Sometimes lasting for weeks and adenovirus infection, which can even lead to vision loss, is transmitted very quickly and spreads rapidly, especially in family members. Here is information about conjunctivitis.
Head of Ocular Infection Unit of the Turkish Ophthalmological Association Professor Doctor, with the relaxation of pandemic measures, viral infections that have become epidemics again he said he also shot the eyes. Adenoviruses, which have been on the agenda for a long time by causing respiratory tract infections, are also the types that cause conjunctivitis in the eye Prof. The doctor said that its infectiousness is also very high, and family members of the disease, especially with close contact, non-attention to hygiene, and hand-eye contact he noted that it can spread rapidly between children, and the risk is higher, most often because it is more difficult to contact in a small age group, such as a kindergarten.
It should be noted that last year there were quite a few cases of conjunctivitis, because due to covid, people really pay a lot of attention to the rules of masks, distance and hand hygiene, but the precautions along with his relaxation, there has been a significant increase in the number of cases over the past few weeks, Prof. Dr. “Adenoviral conjunctivitis, which came to our clinics, began to increase.
There are several types of adenovirus. In the form of what we call ‘pharyngoconjunctival fever’, it is accompanied by an upper respiratory tract infection. Namely pharyngitis, fever, upper respiratory tract decubitus; it all goes away together. A single virus can infect both the otorhinolaryngological system and the upper respiratory tract, as well as the conjunctiva. But alone the involvement is more different in ‘adenoviral conjunctivitis’. At the moment, we are also seeing an increase in the number of adenoviral conjunctivitis, which is more often alone. This is also a precursor to an epidemic we think,” he said.
Emphasizing that the contagiousness of the disease is extremely high, especially among people who are in the family or have very close contacts, its spread is very rapid, Prof. Dr. “Just we see the conjunctivitis picture more often. Along with conjunctivitis, it is also accompanied by adenopathy in front of the ear, that is, an enlargement of the lymph nodes. We start the treatment of these patients immediately and we have to follow it very closely. Because if opacities (turbidity) form under the transparent layer of the eye, which we call the cornea, their treatment is of very special importance.
It can even lead to vision loss. Symptoms of adenoviral conjunctivitis usually begin a few days after contact. Although it starts unilaterally, it is up to 50 percent in the case, involvement can be seen in the other eye within a week. It starts as redness, burring, secretion (increased secretion) in the eye and enlargement of the lymph node in the front of the ear. Then symptoms can also be seen in the other eye within a week or a few days,” he said.
SYMPTOMS CAN LAST FOR WEEKS
An effective method of treatment of adenovirus infections, which are accompanied by such unpleasant symptoms as the inability to open the eyes in the morning due to severe discharge from the eyelashes, significant blood in the eye explaining that it is not, but treatments aimed at regressing the symptoms can be applied, Prof. Dr. he continued: “We have now learned about viral infections from covid in the country as well. Viral Infection there is no clear cure for conditions, infections. But you can carry out treatment aimed at correcting the symptoms. That’s how we track our patients. Adenovirus its symptoms in the eye can last from 1-3 weeks may be extremely misery. Especially sensitivity to light makes patients very uncomfortable. There may be a lot of stinging, burning, pain sensations. Either if there is a turbidity that occurs in the lower layers of the transparent layer, which we call subepithelial opacity, the stress of our patients increases by a factor when vision loss is added, and their treatment is more it is of special importance.”
THE TRANSMISSION TIME IS LONG, IT IS IMPORTANT TO AVOID CONTACT
Stating that the transmission period of the disease can also be long, Prof. Dr. “It can last from a few days to several weeks. So avoid contact because the contagion time is too long, in this sense, it is very important. In many diseases, we know that after the symptoms of the disease appear, the contagiousness disappears in a very short time. Especially in viral diseases, this is a known something. But adenovirus is not like that. After the symptoms appear, transmission times that sometimes last up to a fortnight can also be seen from the flaming state of the disease” said.
MINIMIZE HAND EYE CONTACT
The most important way to protect the eyes from adenovirus infection is to reduce hand-eye contact, says Prof. Dr. “In addition, joint use of personal belongings also increases risk. This we have not encountered such situations very much in the last 2 years due to covid. But at the moment, compliance with the measures has been relaxed. Even though the pandemic is not over, people in many environments he doesn’t follow the rules of contact with the convenience of vaccination either. This is also a plus risk factor for adenoviral conjunctivitis. To continue the same measures at the moment we have to There should be no eye contact with hands, especially during the illness, a person should never use a regular towel; they should dry their face with a paper towel. In addition, the bed is extremely often covered with pillow linens change required. We even recommend changing the pillowcase daily if possible. In addition, the examination instruments in the clinics need to be cleaned extremely meticulously. Because this can also become a source of infection. If we do not disinfect the environments we are examining in a good way, we will contribute to the spread of this epidemic. That’s why every patient then all the instruments must necessarily be sterilized with special disinfectants,” he said.
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Turkey's world-renowned organ transplant specialist. Dr. Demirbaş has 104 international publications and 102 national publications.
Physician's Resume:
Born on August 7, 1963 in Çorum, Prof. Dr. Alper Demirbaş has been continuing his work as the President of MedicalPark Antalya Hospital Organ Transplantation Center since 2008.
Prof. who performed the first tissue incompatible kidney transplant in Turkey, the first blood type incompatible kidney transplant, the first kidney-pancreas transplant program and the first cadaveric donor and live donor liver transplant in Antalya. Dr. As of August 2016, Alper Demirbaş has performed 4900 kidney transplants, 500 liver transplants and 95 pancreas transplants.
In addition to being the chairman of 6 national congresses, he has also been an invited speaker at 12 international and 65 national scientific congresses. Dr. Alper Demirbaş was married and the father of 1 girl and 1 boy.
Awards:
Eczacibasi Medical Award of 2002, Akdeniz University Service Award of 2005, Izder Medical Man of the Year Award of 2006, BÖHAK Medical Man of the Year Award of 2007, Sabah Mediterranean Newspaper Scientist of the Year Award of 2007, ANTIKAD Scientist of the Year Award of 2009, Social Ethics Association Award of 2010, Işık University Medical Man of the Year Award of 2015, VTV Antalya's Brand Value Award of 2015.
Certificates:
Doctor of Medicine Degree Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine Ankara, General Surgeon Ministry of Health Turkey EKFMG (0-477-343-8), University of Miami School of Medicine Member of Multiple Organ Transplant, ASTS Multiorgan Transplant Scholarship. Lecturer at Kyoto University. Lecturer at University of Essen, Research assistant at the University of Cambridge .
Professional Members:
American Society of Transplant Surgeons, American Transplantation Society Nominated, Middle East and Southern Africa Council Transplantation Society 2007, International Liver Transplantation Association, Turkish Transplantation Association, Turkish Society of Surgery, Turkish Hepatobiliary Surgery Association.
Disclaimer:
Our website contents consist of articles approved by our Web and Medical Editorial Board with the contributions of our physicians. Our contents are prepared only for informational purposes for public benefit. Be sure to consult your doctor for diagnosis and treatment.