TREATMENT OF EPIDEMIC KERATO-CONJUNCTIVITIS WITH LOCAL INSTILLATION OF CONVALESCENT SERUM.

Abstract

The author tried the therapy of epidemic kerato-conjunctivitis with local-instillation of convalescent serum in 47 patients. Other 12 patients were given normal serum as controls. The following are the results from the con-valescent serum therapy: The conjunctival inflammation was reduced day by day, and the subjective symptoms also became less. Of 34 cases of monocular infection, 30 (88%) stayed unaffected in the other eye, and four were affected during the course of the disease. No corneal lesion (complication) was seen in 26 cases. There were six cases where the corneal lesion was seen already at the first visit and disappeared with the treatment. Thus, no corneal complication was seen in 32 cases (68%). Even when the complication was seen, it was not as severe as in cases treated otherwise. The average period for the cure was 16 days from the onset of the disease. The following are the results from normal serum therapy: Of the 12 cases, only five cases (42%) showed no contagion to the other eye. Eight cases (67%) showed the corneal complications. The average period for the cure was 19 days. The author concluded that the convalescent serum therapy is remarkably effective in the treatment of EKC. And, it is highly recommended that the convalescent serum be stored routinely.