Acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis in Central America: First enterovirus epidemic in the western hemisphere

Acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis (AHC) is an eye infection that was first noted in 1969 and became a pandemic disease in Africa, Southeast Asia, and Japan in the 1970s. It was not noted in the western hemisphere until 1981. This report describes the clinical experience with AHC in Honduras where it was first seen in the western hemisphere. Clinical presentation includes acute onset with symptoms of foreign body sensation, burning, and photophobia. Signs include lid edema, periauricular lymphadenopathy, conjunctival injection, follicular reaction, and typically subconjunctival hemorrhages. Since AHC appears to be a very contagious conjunctivitis, it can spread rapidly and result in a high proportion of the population becoming infected. There is no known specific treatment for this disease, and containment includes increased attention to hygiene.