New Covid-19 Variant XBB.1.16 Causes Conjunctivitis in Children: Symptoms and Management

With the COVID-19 pandemic, conjunctivitis or pink eye has been newly included as one of the symptoms caused by the virus. Although the earlier waves had only a few instances of pink eye, it has now resurged in the recent COVID-19 wave driven by XBB.1.16 or Arcturus, especially in children. There is still uncertainty among medical professionals if pink eye is a direct symptom of Arcturus or a new symptom, and it is too early to make a claim. Conjunctivitis is a highly contagious inflammation of the outer membrane of the eyeball and the inner eyelid. It can be recognized by symptoms that include red eyes, excess tearing, sensitivity to light, pain, and a grainy feeling in the eye. The Arcturus variant of COVID-19 has been found to have additional spike protein mutations, causing it to be highly infectious and more likely to evade immunity from earlier infections and vaccination. The symptoms caused by this new strain are mild and can include sore throat, high fever, runny nose, frequent headaches, gastrointestinal problems, diarrhea, muscle, joint pain, and red eyes. Medical professionals recommend getting vaccinated and following COVID-appropriate behavior that includes social distancing, wearing masks, and washing hands regularly. Conjunctivitis can be caused by various infections, including bacterial and viral conjunctivitis, dryness due to summer heat, allergies to pollens, animal dander, and pollutants leading to allergic conjunctivitis. Simple tips suggested by experts to manage conjunctivitis include frequent hand washing, not sharing eye make-up, towels, or eye drops, using care and hygiene when using contact lenses, and using sunglasses for UV ray protection.