Abstract
Abstract Objectives We compared the laboratory and clinical symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), other viral (beside COVID-19), and bacterial conjunctivitis patients with the values of controls. Methods Twenty COVID-19, 15 other viral, 15 bacterial patients, and 15 control group were included in the study. COVID-19 was diagnosed with the real time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction while the indirect immunofluorescent antibody test was used in the detection of other viral agents. Bacterial agents were determined with the detection of the agent. The ophthalmologic examination of all cases was carried out by direct penlight, and the anterior segment evaluation was performed. The laboratory findings of all cases included in the study were obtained from the hospital records. Results It was determined that 5% conjunctivitis and 5% diplopia developed in patients diagnosed with COVID-19, 20% conjunctivitis developed in patients due to other viral agents, and 66.6% conjunctivitis developed in patients due to bacterial agents. Conclusion The incidence of conjunctivitis in COVID-19 patients was lower than in other viral and bacterial groups. Neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio and C-reactive protein come to the forefront as precious parameters with high specificity and sensitivity that might be useful to distinguish these diseases.
Highlights
In December 2019, one of the members of the Coronavirus family mutated, causing a pandemic around the world [1]
It was determined that 5% conjunctivitis and 5% diplopia developed in patients diagnosed with COVID-19, 20% conjunctivitis developed in patients due to other viral agents, and 66.6% conjunctivitis developed in patients due to bacterial agents
The mean ages of the COVID-19, adenoviral and bacterial conjunctivitis cases and control participants included in the study were 61.57 ± 19.06 years, 65.60 ± 5.06 years, 57.46 ± 16.11 years, and 60.80 ± 16.37 years, respectively, and there was no significant difference between them (p>0.05)
Summary
In December 2019, one of the members of the Coronavirus family mutated, causing a pandemic around the world [1]. This Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causing the pandemic was called Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) diseases by the World Health Organization [2]. COVID-19 is a disease, which affects many anatomical organs such as the lungs, liver, kidneys, nose, stomach, and eyes and has a very wide clinical spectrum such as fever, fatigue, dry cough, muscle pain, difficulty in breathing, diarrhea and nausea, and causes death with pneumonia, severe respiratory distress, septic shock and kidney failure, or multiple organ failure [5, 6]. Infectious conjunctivitis occurs when the host resistance decreases or microorganisms overcome this resistance [8]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
