Conjunctivitis
What is conjunctivitis?
Conjunctivitis is an infection of your conjunctiva. Your conjunctiva is a thin surface that covers the inside of your eyelids and the whites of your eyes.
If germs called
bacteria infect your conjunctiva, it can become
inflamed. This is called bacterial conjunctivitis. Your eyes look red and feel irritated, uncomfortable and watery. You can also get thick pus coming from your eyes.
1
2
bacteria
Bacteria are tiny organisms. There are lots of different types. Some are harmful and can cause disease. But some bacteria live in your body without causing any harm.
Bacteria are tiny organisms. There are lots of different types. Some are harmful and can cause disease. But some bacteria live in your body without causing any harm.
inflammation
If your skin or some other part of your body becomes red, swollen, hot or sore, we say it is inflamed. It means that your body is trying to protect you from germs, from something in your body tissues that can hurt you (like a thorn or sliver), or from things that cause allergies (allergens). Inflammation is part of the way the body heals an infection or injury.
If your skin or some other part of your body becomes red, swollen, hot or sore, we say it is inflamed. It means that your body is trying to protect you from germs, from something in your body tissues that can hurt you (like a thorn or sliver), or from things that cause allergies (allergens). Inflammation is part of the way the body heals an infection or injury.
Source:
American Family Physician. November 2002.
Conjunctivitis.
Available at http://www.aafp.org (accessed on 5 November 2008).
American Family Physician. November 2002.
Conjunctivitis.
Available at http://www.aafp.org (accessed on 5 November 2008).
Source:
Rietveld RP, ter Riet G, Bindels PJ, et al.
Predicting bacterial cause in infectious conjunctivitis: cohort study on informativeness of combinations of signs and symptoms.
BMJ. 2004; 329: 206-210.
Rietveld RP, ter Riet G, Bindels PJ, et al.
Predicting bacterial cause in infectious conjunctivitis: cohort study on informativeness of combinations of signs and symptoms.
BMJ. 2004; 329: 206-210.
If you have conjunctivitis caused by bacteria, you'll wake up with yellow pus in your eyes.
Lots of things, including dust, sand and pollen, can irritate your eyes and make them inflamed.
Viruses and
allergies can also cause conjunctivitis.
1 But if you have conjunctivitis caused by bacteria, you'll wake up with crusty eyelids.
2
3 This is caused by the pus coming from your eyes while you sleep. It's usually worse than the "sleep" you normally have in
your eyes when you wake up.
viruses
Viruses are microbes (tiny organisms) that need the cells of humans or other animals to exist. They use the machinery of cells to reproduce. Then they spread to other cells in the body.
Viruses are microbes (tiny organisms) that need the cells of humans or other animals to exist. They use the machinery of cells to reproduce. Then they spread to other cells in the body.
allergy
If you have an allergy to something, your body overreacts when you're around it. The thing you are allergic to is called an allergen. Most allergens are harmless to most people. But if you're allergic to something, your body's system for fighting infection (your immune system) is too sensitive to that allergen. It triggers changes that we call allergic reactions. For example, pollen is an allergen for many people. If you're allergic to pollen, you'll sneeze and have runny eyes when pollen is in the air.
If you have an allergy to something, your body overreacts when you're around it. The thing you are allergic to is called an allergen. Most allergens are harmless to most people. But if you're allergic to something, your body's system for fighting infection (your immune system) is too sensitive to that allergen. It triggers changes that we call allergic reactions. For example, pollen is an allergen for many people. If you're allergic to pollen, you'll sneeze and have runny eyes when pollen is in the air.
Source:
American Family Physician. November 2002.
Conjunctivitis.
Available at http://www.aafp.org (accessed on 5 November 2008).
American Family Physician. November 2002.
Conjunctivitis.
Available at http://www.aafp.org (accessed on 5 November 2008).
Source:
Rietveld RP, ter Riet G, Bindels PJ, et al.
Predicting bacterial cause in infectious conjunctivitis: cohort study on informativeness of combinations of signs and symptoms.
BMJ. 2004; 329: 206-210.
Rietveld RP, ter Riet G, Bindels PJ, et al.
Predicting bacterial cause in infectious conjunctivitis: cohort study on informativeness of combinations of signs and symptoms.
BMJ. 2004; 329: 206-210.
Source:
Friedlaender MH.
A review of the causes and treatment of bacterial and allergic conjunctivitis.
Clinical Therapeutics. 1995; 17: 800-810.
Friedlaender MH.
A review of the causes and treatment of bacterial and allergic conjunctivitis.
Clinical Therapeutics. 1995; 17: 800-810.
Conjunctivitis caused by viruses or bacteria can easily spread from person to person. You can help prevent this by:
- Washing your hands often
- Trying not to touch your eyes.
Conjunctivitis is very common among school children. Viruses and bacteria can spread from child to child when they play.
1 Children are also much more likely to get conjunctivitis if they already have an ear infection. The germs that cause ear infections and sinusitis can also cause conjunctivitis.
Source:
American Family Physician. November 2002.
Conjunctivitis.
Available at http://www.aafp.org (accessed on 5 November 2008).
American Family Physician. November 2002.
Conjunctivitis.
Available at http://www.aafp.org (accessed on 5 November 2008).
Adults are much more likely to get conjunctivitis if they tend to have very dry eyes.
4
Source:
American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Conjunctivitis preferred practice pattern.
Available at http://www.aao.org (accessed on 5 November 2008).
American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Conjunctivitis preferred practice pattern.
Available at http://www.aao.org (accessed on 5 November 2008).
In about 65 out of 100 people, conjunctivitis clears up on its own after a few days.
5 But conjunctivitis can occasionally be a sign of more serious eye problems, such as
glaucoma, or an infection in your eyelid (a stye). And the infection that causes the conjunctivitis can sometimes get worse and spread
if it isn't treated.
1
Source:
Sheikh A, Hurwitz B.
Topical antibiotics for acute bacterial conjunctivitis: Cochrane systematic review and meta-analysis update.
British Journal of General Practice. 2005; 55: 962-964.
Sheikh A, Hurwitz B.
Topical antibiotics for acute bacterial conjunctivitis: Cochrane systematic review and meta-analysis update.
British Journal of General Practice. 2005; 55: 962-964.
glaucoma
Glaucoma is a condition that affects your eyes. If you have glaucoma, your vision slowly gets worse. It happens when certain nerves in your head get damaged. These nerves carry images of what you see to your brain. Glaucoma is often caused by high pressure inside your eye.
Glaucoma is a condition that affects your eyes. If you have glaucoma, your vision slowly gets worse. It happens when certain nerves in your head get damaged. These nerves carry images of what you see to your brain. Glaucoma is often caused by high pressure inside your eye.
Source:
American Family Physician. November 2002.
Conjunctivitis.
Available at http://www.aafp.org (accessed on 5 November 2008).
American Family Physician. November 2002.
Conjunctivitis.
Available at http://www.aafp.org (accessed on 5 November 2008).
Your doctor probably won't do tests to find out if your conjunctivitis is caused by bacteria. This is because conjunctivitis
usually clears up before the test results come back. Some doctors treat all people with conjunctivitis with
antibiotic eye drops or ointment. Other doctors treat conjunctivitis with antibiotics only if they think it's been caused by bacteria.
2
antibiotics
These medications are used to help your immune system fight infection. There are a number of different types of antibiotics that work in different ways to get rid of bacteria, parasites and other infectious agents. Antibiotics do not work against viruses.
These medications are used to help your immune system fight infection. There are a number of different types of antibiotics that work in different ways to get rid of bacteria, parasites and other infectious agents. Antibiotics do not work against viruses.
Source:
Rietveld RP, ter Riet G, Bindels PJ, et al.
Predicting bacterial cause in infectious conjunctivitis: cohort study on informativeness of combinations of signs and symptoms.
BMJ. 2004; 329: 206-210.
Rietveld RP, ter Riet G, Bindels PJ, et al.
Predicting bacterial cause in infectious conjunctivitis: cohort study on informativeness of combinations of signs and symptoms.
BMJ. 2004; 329: 206-210.
Sources for the information on this page:
- American Family Physician. November 2002.Conjunctivitis.Available at http://www.aafp.org (accessed on 5 November 2008).
- Rietveld RP, ter Riet G, Bindels PJ, et al.Predicting bacterial cause in infectious conjunctivitis: cohort study on informativeness of combinations of signs and symptoms.BMJ. 2004; 329: 206-210.
- Friedlaender MH.A review of the causes and treatment of bacterial and allergic conjunctivitis.Clinical Therapeutics. 1995; 17: 800-810.
- American Academy of Ophthalmology.Conjunctivitis preferred practice pattern.Available at http://www.aao.org (accessed on 5 November 2008).
- Sheikh A, Hurwitz B.Topical antibiotics for acute bacterial conjunctivitis: Cochrane systematic review and meta-analysis update.British Journal of General Practice. 2005; 55: 962-964.
This information was last updated on Apr 24, 2009
This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2009. All rights reserved.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2009. All rights reserved.
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Source: ConsumerReportsHealth.org Copyright © 2005-2008 Consumers Union of U.S., Inc.
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