Table 1.
Baseline demographic characteristics and index test results and their univariate odds ratios. Values are numbers (percentages) unless stated otherwise. The prevalence of a positive culture was 32% (57/177)
| Characteristic | Culture positive (n=57) | Culture negative (n=120) | Odds ratio (95% CI) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean (SD) age (years) | 47 (17) | 42 (14) | - |
| Median (range) duration of symptoms (days) | 2 (1-7) | 3 (1-7) | - |
| Female | 36 (63) | 68 (57) | - |
| History of hay fever | 9 (16) | 18 (15) | 1.06 (0.45 to 2.54) |
| History of conjunctivitis | 5 (9) | 25 (21) | 0.37 (0.13 to 1.01) |
| History of allergic conjunctivitis | 3 (5) | 6 (5) | 1.06 (0.25 to 4.38) |
| Self treatment* | 45 (79) | 85 (71) | 1.54 (0.73 to 3.26) |
| Redness: | |||
| Peripheral | 16 (28) | 50 (42) | 1 |
| Whole conjunctiva | 29 (51) | 50 (42) | 1.81 (0.88 to 3.74) |
| Conjunctival and pericorneal | 12 (21) | 20 (17) | 1.88 (0.75 to 4.66) |
| Periorbital oedema | 20 (35) | 41 (34) | 1.04 (0.54 to 2.02) |
| Secretion: | |||
| None or water | 20 (35) | 47 (39) | 1 |
| Mucus | 26 (46) | 43 (36) | 1.42 (0.70 to 2.90) |
| Purulent | 11 (19) | 30 (25) | 0.86 (0.36 to 2.05) |
| Bilateral involvement | 21 (37) | 19 (16) | 3.10 (1.50 to 6.42) |
| Itching | 33 (58) | 76 (63) | 0.80 (0.42 to 1.52) |
| Foreign body sensation | 23 (40) | 48 (40) | 1.02 (0.53 to 1.93) |
| Burning sensation | 37 (65) | 69 (58) | 1.37 (0.71 to 2.63) |
| Glued eyes: | |||
| None | 5 (8) | 33 (27) | 1 |
| One in the morning | 30 (53) | 74 (62) | 2.68 (0.95 to 7.51) |
| Two in the morning | 22 (39) | 13 (11) | 11.17 (3.49 to 35.77) |
*
Cleaning with water.