Infants and toddlers' epidemic keratoconjunctivitis has doubled in about two months...Beware of swimming pools, baths, etc
Jun 12, 2025
|
Epidemic keratoconjunctivitis is an ophthalmic disease caused by infection with adenovirus,
It is not sterilized well even by heat or disinfectant, so it can be easily transmitted in swimming pools and bathhouses.
According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of patients with suspected symptoms of epidemic keratoconjunctivitis per 1,000 outpatients in 79 medical institutions nationwide was 11.3 (tentative) in the 22nd week of this year, up 43% from the 13th week (7.9).
By age, the number of infant doctors under the age of 6 jumped about 96% from 29.7 to 58.2 during the same period. The rate of increase is much higher compared to 7 to 19 years old (4.5%) or over 20 years old (41.2%).
Epidemic keratoconjunctivitis is easily confused because it has similar symptoms to allergic keratitis such as congestion, foreign body sensation, eye booger and pain, but the biggest difference is that allergic keratoconjunctivitis is not contagious, while epidemic keratoconjunctivitis is highly contagious.
Most of them improve naturally without any aftereffects, but in some cases, corneal confusion or stickiness of the eyelid and eyeball may occur. It is important to get a diagnosis and treatment in an ophthalmologist because prescribing antibiotics and steroid eye drops helps relieve symptoms, and washing your eyes with water or saline can worsen.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
