Prevalence of Adenovirus Infection Among Children with Conjunctivitis in Ogun State

Adenoviruses are major causes of acute conjunctivitis globally, accounting for a significant proportion of eye clinic presentations in Nigerian paediatric populations. This study determines the prevalence of adenovirus infection among children diagnosed with acute conjunctivitis at eye clinics in Abeokuta, Ogun State, South West Nigeria. A cross-sectional laboratory-based study will recruit 220 children aged 1 to 15 years presenting with acute conjunctivitis at the Federal Medical Centre Idi-Aba and the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital over six months. Conjunctival swabs will be collected from the lower fornix under aseptic conditions and subjected to adenovirus antigen detection by immunochromatographic rapid assay, with RT-PCR confirmation and serotyping for reactive samples. Clinical data on symptom duration, concurrent upper respiratory symptoms, and prior antibiotic use will be recorded. Global estimates indicate adenovirus accounts for 20 to 75 percent of epidemic keratoconjunctivitis, with serotypes 8, 19, and 37 most commonly implicated. Findings will establish baseline adenovirus conjunctivitis prevalence data for Ogun State, informing clinicians about the viral aetiology of conjunctivitis and reducing inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions. The study also contributes to the epidemiological characterisation of adenoviral disease in South West Nigeria, supporting surveillance initiatives of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control for non-polio enteric and respiratory viruses. Keywords: adenovirus, conjunctivitis, children, Ogun State, prevalence