incidence of adenoviral conjunctivitis in patients referred to the iran university affiliated hospital

background and aims: adenovirus is one of the causative agents of viral conjunctivitis. approximately an average of 40% of viral conjunctivitis is due to adenovirus infection. the rate of infection is usually the highest during the spring and summer months. in this study attempt was made to evaluate the incidence of conjunctivitis due to adenovirus infection in patients referred to one of the affiliated university hospital using the congenital virological methods. materials and methods: samples were taken by a swab from patients with clinical conjunctivitis. samples were processed and tested using the techniques of cell culture inoculation and polymerase chain reaction. results: from the 100 samples taken 16% of then were positive by pcr method. from these only 8% showed viral growth on cell culture. there was no difference of infection between the sex groups but most cases accrued in patients aged 17-27 years during the months of march to may. conclusion: from the results of this study if was concluded that adenovirus plays a major role as a causative agent of conjunctivitis.