Conjunctival suffusion

Conjunctival suffusion
Conjunctival suffusion
	Conjunctival suffusion (red conjunctiva) together with jaundice is a specific feature of leptospirosis
Diagnostic method	Weil's disease, Hantavirus

Last updated November 25, 2025

Conjunctival suffusion is an eye finding occurring early in leptospirosis, which is caused by Leptospira interrogans . Conjunctival suffusion is characterized by redness of the conjunctiva that resembles conjunctivitis, but it does not involve inflammatory exudates.^[1] Swelling of the conjunctiva (chemosis) is seen along the corners of the eye (palpebral fissures).^[2]

About 30 percent of people with leptospirosis (also known as Weil's disease) develop conjunctival suffusion.^[2] When it does occur, it develops towards the end of the early phase of the illness. Even in severe cases, the suffusion occurs in the first phase of the illness.^[1]

Conjunctival suffusion may also occur in patients with a Hantavirus infection.^[3] In a 1994 study of 17 patients with Hantavirus infections, 3 had conjunctival suffusion.^{[ citation needed ]}

References

1 2 Gompf, Sandra. "Leptospirosis Clinical Presentation". WebMD, LLC. Medscape. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
1 2 Goldman, Lee (2011). Goldman's Cecil Medicine (24th ed.). Philadelphia: Elsevier Saunders. p. 1938. ISBN 978-1437727883.
↑ Duchin, Jeffrey S.; Koster, Frederick T.; Peters, C.J.; Simpson, Gary L.; Tempest, Bruce; Zaki, Sherif R.; Ksiazek, Thomas G.; Rollin, Pierre E.; Nichol, Stuart; Umland, Edith T.; Moolenaar, Ronald L.; Reef, Susan E.; Nolte, Kurt B.; Gallaher, Margaret M.; Butler, Jay C.; Breiman, Robert F. (Apr 7, 1994). "Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome: A Clinical Description of 17 Patients with a Newly Recognized Disease". New England Journal of Medicine. 330 (14): 949–955. doi: 10.1056/NEJM199404073301401 . PMID 8121458.

External links

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[Medscape-1] 1 2 Gompf, Sandra. "Leptospirosis Clinical Presentation". WebMD, LLC. Medscape. Retrieved 9 December 2012.

[Cecil-2] 1 2 Goldman, Lee (2011). Goldman's Cecil Medicine (24th ed.). Philadelphia: Elsevier Saunders. p. 1938. ISBN 978-1437727883.

[3] Duchin, Jeffrey S.; Koster, Frederick T.; Peters, C.J.; Simpson, Gary L.; Tempest, Bruce; Zaki, Sherif R.; Ksiazek, Thomas G.; Rollin, Pierre E.; Nichol, Stuart; Umland, Edith T.; Moolenaar, Ronald L.; Reef, Susan E.; Nolte, Kurt B.; Gallaher, Margaret M.; Butler, Jay C.; Breiman, Robert F. (Apr 7, 1994). "Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome: A Clinical Description of 17 Patients with a Newly Recognized Disease". New England Journal of Medicine. 330 (14): 949–955. doi: 10.1056/NEJM199404073301401 . PMID 8121458.

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