What Is Coxsackievirus?
7. Acute Hemorrhagic Conjunctivitis
Acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis is a severe form of pink eye caused by Coxsackievirus A24. Symptoms include a sudden swelling of the eyelids, production of tears and mucus, and intense pain in response to light. Tiny blood vessels in the white of the eye burst and are noticeable as red patches. Twenty percent of patients report fever and headache, but usually, no other parts of the body are affected. The condition goes away within two weeks.
Acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis was first discovered in 1969-70 in Ghana and Singapore; it then spread to the western hemisphere in 1981. It is now considered pandemic in scope, with periodic outbreaks infecting millions of people worldwide. The disease is most common in countries with poor sanitation, where it is often spread by sharing bathwater, towels, or bedding.
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