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Infectious Conjunctivitis
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Viral conjunctivitis,
bacterial conjunctivitis, red eye, and pink
eye
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- The conjunctivum is the membrane
that lines the eyelids and the Sclera (white of the eye).
Infection or irritation of the conjunctivum and the
inflammation (redness, irritation, swelling) that results is
termed Conjunctivitis.
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- Eyes are red or pink.
- Eyelids stick together especially in the morning.
- Eyes Itch.
- Excess tearing.
- White- yellow or cream color thick sticky discharge (usually in bacterial infections).
- Watery discharge (Allergic or Viral).
- Pain may be present.
- Bacterial symptoms often in one eye.
- Virus infections and allergies often affect both eyes.
- Bleeding or hemorrhage can be seen as rupture of tiny blood vessels (Viral or chemical).
- Viruses such as Herpes can cause tiny ulcers (shallow open sores).
- Swelling of conjunctiva can occur.
- Sensitivity to
light.
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- Symptoms
- Do others have similar symptoms?
- Illnesses
- Job
- Medication
- Chemical exposure
- Family history
- Allergies
- Travel
- Direct examination of the eye with an ophthalmoscope, an instrument with a light that allows the doctor to check the inside of the eye.
- Vision exam -- using an eye chart
- Eye discharge may be collected and sent for a culture
- Cultures that identify the type of infection and bacteria usually take about 48 - 72 hours to grow.
- Viral cultures take longer
- The doctor can stain the crusty eye discharge with a special dye and look at it under a microscope (Gram stain or Giemsa stain), but this is a rare treatment these days.
- Special stains and slides can be prepared from the discharge to look for specific infections such as the Papanicolaou test for Herpes Simplex.
- Staining the eye with Fluorescein dye will show cuts and ulcers under an ultraviolet lamp.
- Blood tests can also be done for
specific causes
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- See causes.
- During delivery if mother has Neisseria gonorrhoeae or Chlamydia the baby's eyes may infected.
- Trauma.
- Schools or institutions where others have conjunctivitis.
- Poor hygiene and frequent touching
eyes.
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- If ulcers or damage has occurred,
the patient is referred to an eye specialist
(Ophthalmologist)
- Warm (NOT HOT) water can be used to
wash the debris. Cold water may help with irritants,
chemicals and allergic conjunctivitis.
- Remove contacts
- Bacterial infections include:
- Antibiotic eye drops or ointments that are given for 5-7 days
- Gentamicin, Tobramycin and Erythromycin ophthalmic preparations are often put in every 4 hours.
- Antibiotic pills are rarely necessary, but Doxycycline, taken orally for 3 weeks, is effective against chlamydia.
- Viral infections without ulcerations are usually resolved without treatment
- Antiviral eye drops and pills
such as Acyclovir are effective therapies for
herpes
- Allergy medicines
- Avoid the causative agent
- Oral and antihistamine eye drops
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Contact
your doctor for an eye exam. If the chemicals have gotten
into your eye, wash them immediately with cold water and get
to the emergency room. Do not delay
treatment!
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