ECHOVIRUS KERATOCONJUNCTIVITIS

PURPOSE: To investigate an outbreak of echovirus-related keratoconjunc tivitis.METHODS: We undertook a retrospective study of recent cases of : echovirus infection with recall and further evaluation of conjunctiv itis patients. All patients from whom an echovirus was isolated in Liv erpool during 1995 were included. The natural course of ocular echovir us disease was studied, including the likelihood of echovirus keratoco njunctivitis being linked with meningitis and the risk of long-term ca rriage of the virus in the conjunctiva. RESULTS: Of 10 unrelated patie nts with echovirus conjunctivitis, six also had a mild keratitis. None of these patients developed meningitis, and no cases of long term car riage in the conjunctiva were encountered. There was no link between c ases of echovirus meningitis and conjunctivitis. There was no correspo nding increase in other ocular viral isolates. CONCLUSIONS: Echovirus is a relatively unrecognized cause of keratoconjunctivitis. Echoviral keratoconjunctivitis appears to be an independent ocular event unassoc iated with systemic sequelae. Long-term carriage in the conjunctiva do es not. appear to occur.