Conjunctivitis epidemiology and demographics
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Conjunctivitis accounts for 1% of all primary care visits and emergency room visits.
Epidemiology and Demographics
Prevalence
1,300 to 1,400 cases per 100,000 people / year. Viruses cause up to 80% of all cases of acute conjunctivitis, and Between 65% and 90% of cases of viral conjunctivitis' are caused by adenoviruses. Herpes simplex virus comprises 1.3% to 4.8% of all cases of acute conjunctivitis. The incidence of bacterial conjunctivitis was estimated to be 135 in 10,000. Prevalence of neonatal conjunctivitis has decreased significantly in developed countries since the abandonment of silver nitrate as topical prophylaxis. Current estimates of prevalence of neonatal conjunctivitis in developed countries are < 0.5%. The incidence of neonatal conjunctivitis is still high in certain regions of the world, particularly in developing countries. A recent study found an estimated prevalence of 17% among nearly 1000 newborn infants in Pakistan, and Incidence of neonatal conjunctivitis remains high in Africa.<ref name="pmid2877285">Laga M, Plummer FA, Nzanze H, Namaara W, Brunham RC, Ndinya-Achola JO; et al. (1986). "Epidemiology of ophthalmia neonatorum in Kenya". Lancet. 2 (8516): 1145–9. PMID 2877285. </ref
The prevalence keratoconjunctivitis ranges from 12 to 106 cases per 100,000 population.
Age
The incidence is higher in children <1 year old (8000 cases per 100,000 patient-years) than in children >4 years of age (1200 cases per 100,000 patient-years). While viral conjunctivitis is more common in adults, bacterial conjunctivitis is more common in children.
Gender
Conjunctivitis occurs equally in males and females.