Pharyngoconjunctival fever is a viral syndrome linked to human adenovirus infection of the ocular mucosa [1]. The reviewed sources indicate that outbreaks of this syndrome are due to adenovirus types 3, 4, and 7 [1]. It is distinguished in the literature as a separate adenoviral keratoconjunctivitis syndrome from epidemic keratoconjunctivitis [2].
Disease Profile
Pharyngoconjunctival fever
咽结膜热
Pharyngoconjunctival fever is an adenoviral ocular syndrome associated with human adenovirus, and it is one of the two well-defined adenoviral keratoconjunctivitis clinical syndromes described in the source material [1][2]. The condition is reported as a common manifestation of ocular adenoviral infection, with clinical emphasis on fever, pharyngitis, and conjunctivitis [1][3]. Source-backed detail on incidence, prognosis, and case burden specific to pharyngoconjunctival fever is not yet available [2].
The syndrome is described clinically with fever, pharyngitis, and follicular conjunctivitis [1]. Another source characterizes it as having abrupt onset of high fever, pharyngitis, bilateral conjunctivitis, and periauricular lymph node enlargement [3]. The broader conjunctival infection picture may overlap with other conjunctivitides, but source-backed detail on the full symptom course, duration, or complication frequency for this specific syndrome is not yet available [2][3]. The more severe corneal disease and sight-threatening complications are described for epidemic keratoconjunctivitis rather than for pharyngoconjunctival fever [1][3].
The sources identify human adenovirus as a ubiquitous virus and note that adenoviral conjunctivitis is the most common infectious conjunctivitis worldwide, affecting people of all ages and demographics [1][3]. For adenoviral conjunctivitis overall, cases are reported as more frequent during warmer months, but the exact incidence is unknown [2]. Pharyngoconjunctival fever outbreaks are specifically associated with adenovirus types 3, 4, and 7 [1]. Source-backed detail on the geographic distribution, outbreak magnitude, or surveillance burden of pharyngoconjunctival fever itself is not yet available [1][2].
Transmission is reported to occur mainly through hand-to-eye contact, ocular secretions, respiratory droplets, and contact with ophthalmic care providers and their medical instruments [3]. Another review also notes spread through direct contact or fomites and emphasizes that the virus is extremely resistant to physical and chemical agents [2]. These routes are described for adenoviral conjunctivitis broadly and are the evidence boundary available for pharyngoconjunctival fever [2][3].
The available sources state that human adenovirus affects people of all ages and demographics, but they do not identify a specific high-risk group for pharyngoconjunctival fever [1]. Exposure-related risk is more clearly tied to contact circumstances, including hand-to-eye transfer, ocular secretions, respiratory droplets, fomites, and ophthalmic care settings [2][3]. Source-backed detail on age-specific susceptibility, occupational risk strata, or comorbidity-linked vulnerability is not yet available [1][2].
Prevention is described as the most reliable way to control this contagious infection [2]. The source material does not provide a specific vaccine, prophylaxis schedule, or formal prevention algorithm for pharyngoconjunctival fever [2]. Because transmission can occur by direct contact, fomites, and contaminated ophthalmic instruments, exposure-control measures are implied by the transmission evidence, but source-backed operational details are not yet available [2][3].
In surveillance settings, pharyngoconjunctival fever should be read as an adenoviral conjunctivitis syndrome defined by the combination of fever, pharyngitis, and conjunctivitis, with reported association to adenovirus types 3, 4, and 7 [1][3]. The broader literature indicates that adenoviral conjunctivitis is common, seasonally more frequent in warmer months, and often diagnosed clinically, but the exact incidence is unknown [2]. Source-backed detail on routine case definitions, laboratory confirmation thresholds, or reporting burden specific to this syndrome is not yet available [2].
- 1 Chigbu DI et al. Pathogenesis and management of adenoviral keratoconjunctivitis. Infect Drug Resist. 2018. PMID: 30046247. doi: 10.2147/IDR.S162669. PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30046247/
- 2 González-López JJ et al. Adenoviral keratoconjunctivitis: an update. Arch Soc Esp Oftalmol. 2013 Mar. PMID: 23473088. doi: 10.1016/j.oftal.2012.07.007. PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23473088/
- 3 Jhanji V et al. Adenoviral keratoconjunctivitis. Surv Ophthalmol. 2015 Sep-Oct. PMID: 26077630. doi: 10.1016/j.survophthal.2015.04.001. PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26077630/
- 4 Pharyngoconjunctival fever. Archives of Disease in Childhood. 1984. doi: 10.1136/adc.59.12.1182. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/adc.59.12.1182
- 5 Pharyngoconjunctival Fever. A.M.A. Journal of Diseases of Children. 1956. doi: 10.1001/archpedi.1956.02060030590009. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1001/archpedi.1956.02060030590009
- 6 Pharyngoconjunctival Fever. Definitions. 2020. doi: 10.32388/eqrwvi. DOI: https://doi.org/10.32388/eqrwvi
Figure 1 | Full historical trajectories across all reporting countries.
Figure 2 | Year-over-year monthly comparison for seasonality and structural shifts.
Dataset Archive
Supplementary Data | Multi-country disease dataset
Machine-readable multi-country disease dataset (JSON/CSV) with source metadata.
Source Register
Official sources and update cadences used to construct the downloadable dataset.
JP
JP NIID Weeklyweeklyweb
Japan
Japan weekly infectious disease surveillance via NIID/JIHS.
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