Majallah-i Dānishgāh-i ̒Ulūm-i Pizishkī-i Qum (Aug 2011)
Prevalence of Conjunctivitis Infection by HSV-1 in Patients Referring to Hospitals Affiliated to Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS) in 2009
Abstract
Background and Objectives: The viruses are the most common cause of eye infection. The most common viruses in conjunctivitis infection include Herpes simplex virus, Adeno virus and Entrovirus. It has been estimated that HSV1 causes 60-90% conjunctival infectionsin adults. Recurrent infection by HSV1 results in Herpes keratitis that is the most common cause for blindness in developing countries. Therefore, a prompt laboratory diagnosis is often very useful. Theaim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of conjunctivitis infection by HSV-1 Hospital affiliated to Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS) in 2009.Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was doneon 100 tear film and eye swabs specimens from patient with symptoms of viral conjunctivitis. All samples werecollected in viral transport media (VTM) and inoculated in Vero cell line. Viral cytopatic effect was compared with control sample. HSV1 DNA wasdetected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Chi-square test was used to for data analysis (p<0.05).Results: Out of 100 samples under study, 2% were positive samples by cell culture, whereas in PCR9% were positive. Patients with 6-29 years old had the highest rate of HSV1 infection (13.5%) than other age groups. There was not any significant relationship between age, sex and infection.Conclusion: Herpes simplex virus infection is the major cause of conjunctivitis. Taking the recurrent infection and similarity in clinical manifestation to other infections into account, it seems necessary to have a quick and specific diagnosis of HSV for bettertreatment.
