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CONJUNCTIVITIS
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Dr Ira Shah
M.D, DCH(Gold Medalist), FCPS, DNB
Conjunctiva is a thin transparent membrane that lines the eyeball and eyelid. Inflammation or infection of the conjunctiva leads to conjunctivitis.
Conjunctivitis appears as a pink eye with discharge and itching in the eye. The most common cause of conjunctivitis is a viral infection. Other causes of conjunctivitis are a bacterial infection, allergic reactions and opthalmia neonatorum (conjunctivitis seen in the newborns).
- Bacterial conjunctivitis:-
It is seen as a pink eye. It affects both the eyes usually and leads to thick discharge of mucus from both the eyes.
- Viral conjunctivitis: - Is a limited condition. It usually affects one eye and causes excessive tearing. The discharge is usually mild.
- Allergic conjunctivitis:- It results in excessive tearing from the eyes and itching & redness in the eyes. It may sometimes be associated with a runny nose.
- Opthalmia neonatorum:- Is conjunctivitis in the newborn. It requires emergency care and the neonatologist (physician caring for the baby) should be consulted immediately. It has to be treated urgently to prevent permanent eye damage or blindness. It is usually caused when the infant is exposed to the germs in the mother’s birth canal. Gonococcus, C. trachomatis and herpes virus are the common causes.
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Treatment
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Treatment consists basically of cleaning the eyes and preventing the condition from spreading. Each eye should be cleaned with a clean, wet cotton separately moving the cotton in one direction only (either from left to right or right to left).
Non-prescription eye drops are needed for viral conjunctivitis. Antibiotic eye drops are required for bacterial conjunctivitis. Allergic conjunctivitis require steroid eye drops. However, do not use them without consulting your doctor.
If your condition does not improve within 3 days, consult your doctor.
To prevent spread of infection to other people in the household, the following measures are required:-
- Do not touch your hands to the infected eye.
- Wash your hands frequently.
- Do not share towels, napkins and handkerchiefs with others.
- Wearing glasses may decrease the chance of infection to the people around you. However, it mainly helps you to prevent your hands from touching your eyes and for cosmetic reasons.
The child with conjunctivitis will have to be kept away from school for a few days to prevent spread of infection to other children in school.
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Last created on 2-01-2001
Last updated on 01-07-2006
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