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New research · Ophthalmology
International ophthalmology · 2d
Cross-sectionalInternational ophthalmology · 2026

A cross-sectional clinical and epidemiological overview of a cohort of acute infectious keratoconjunctivitis among war-displaced populations in Kassala State, Sudan, 2024.

Fatima Ahmed Mohamed Sharif, Ibrahim Awad Eljack Ibrahim, Abubakar Mohammed Jibo … Azza Sirag Aldein Mobarak Mohamed
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OphthalmologyCross-sectional

Itching or burning was the most common symptom in this conjunctivitis outbreak

A cross-sectional clinical and epidemiological overview of a cohort of acute infectious keratoconjunctivitis among war-displaced populations in Kassala State, Sudan, 2024.

Fatima Ahmed Mohamed Sharif … Azza Sirag Aldein Mobarak Mohamed
International ophthalmology · 2026
Background

Outbreaks of acute infectious conjunctivitis can spread rapidly in overcrowded communities and healthcare settings.

Methods

A facility- and camp-based cross-sectional study included 417 consecutive patients with acute conjunctivitis or keratoconjunctivitis who presented to participating ophthalmic services and internally displaced persons' settings in Kassala State, Sudan, from 15 August 2024 to 15 December 2024.

n = 417 patients
Results

nearly all patients had itchy or burning eyes, the top symptom

OR by subgroup · 95% CI
null = 1
urban residence
3.51
inadequate water/sanitation access
9.87
crowded environment
2.41
symptom score
0.78
More results

Among 417 patients, 231 (55.4%) were female, and 353 (84.7%) lived in urban areas.

The most frequent signs were conjunctival injection (38.8%), subconjunctival injection (35.7%), follicles/papillae (31.2%), periauricular lymphadenopathy (18.0%), punctate keratitis (11.0%), and membranes (3.8%).

More results

Clinicians recorded suspected bacterial superinfection complicating viral keratoconjunctivitis (43.9%), suspected adenoviral keratoconjunctivitis (29.3%), and suspected bacterial keratoconjunctivitis (21.3%) as the most frequent categories.

“
Conclusion · 1 of 2

This outbreak occurred in a war-affected setting characterized by displacement, overcrowding, and limited access to water and sanitation.

Conclusion · 2 of 2

The clinical pattern is consistent with acute infectious keratoconjunctivitis, but the lack of laboratory testing prevents definitive classification as adenoviral epidemic keratoconjunctivitis or as enterovirus- or coxsackievirus-associated acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis.

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