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| Conjunctivitis | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Pink eye |
 | |
| An eye with viral conjunctivitis | |
| Specialty | Ophthalmology, optometry |
| Symptoms | Reddish eye, scratchiness[1] |
| Duration | Viral conjunctivitis: up to two weeks[2] |
| Causes | Viral, bacterial, allergies[3] |
| Diagnostic method | Based on symptoms, microbial culture[1] |
| Prevention | Handwashing[1] |
| Treatment | Based on underlying cause[3] |
| Frequency | 3–6 million per year (US)[1][3] |
Conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye or Madras eye,[4][5] is inflammation of the outermost layer of the white part of the eye and the inner surface of the eyelid.[6] It makes the eye appear pink or reddish.[1] Pain, burning, scratchiness, or itchiness may occur.[1] The affected eye may have increased tears or be "stuck shut" in the morning.[1] Swelling of the white part of the eye may also occur.[1] Itching is more common in cases due to allergies.[3] Conjunctivitis can affect one or both eyes.[1] This was first identified in Madras.
The most common infectious causes in adults are viral, whereas in children bacterial causes predominate.[7][3] The viral infection may occur along with other symptoms of a common cold.[1] Both viral and bacterial cases are easily spread between people.[1] Allergies to pollen or animal hair are also a common cause.[3] Diagnosis is often based on signs and symptoms.[1] Occasionally, a sample of the discharge is sent for culture.[1]
Prevention is partly by handwashing.[1] Treatment depends on the underlying cause.[1] In the majority of viral cases, there is no specific treatment.[3] Most cases due to a bacterial infection also resolve without treatment; however, antibiotics can shorten the illness.[1][3] People who wear contact lenses and those whose infection is caused by gonorrhea or chlamydia should be treated.[3] Allergic cases can be treated with antihistamines or mast cell inhibitor drops.[3]
About 3 to 6 million people get acute conjunctivitis each year in the United States.[1][3] Typically, people get better in one or two weeks.[1][3] If visual loss, significant pain, sensitivity to light or signs of herpes occur, or if symptoms do not improve after a week, further diagnosis and treatment may be required.[3] Conjunctivitis in a newborn, known as neonatal conjunctivitis, may also require specific treatment.[1]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "Facts About Pink Eye". National Eye Institute. November 2015. Archived from the original on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
- ^ Long SS, Prober CG, Fischer M (2017). Principles and Practice of Pediatric Infectious Diseases E-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 502. ISBN 978-0-323-46132-0.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Azari AA, Barney NP (October 2013). "Conjunctivitis: a systematic review of diagnosis and treatment". JAMA. 310 (16): 1721–1729. doi:10.1001/jama.2013.280318. PMC 4049531. PMID 24150468.
- ^ "What is Viral Conjunctivitis a.k.a. Sore Eyes? | National Institutes of Health".
- ^ Mohanasundaram AS, Gurnani B, Kaur K, Manikkam R (May 2023). "Madras eye outbreak in India: Why should we foster a better understanding of acute conjunctivitis?". Indian Journal of Ophthalmology. 71 (5): 2298–2299. doi:10.4103/IJO.IJO_3317_22. PMC 10391441. PMID 37202982.
- ^ Richards A, Guzman-Cottrill JA (May 2010). "Conjunctivitis". Pediatrics in Review. 31 (5): 196–208. doi:10.1542/pir.31-5-196. PMID 20435711. S2CID 245084568.
- ^ Durand ML, Barshak MB, Sobrin L (December 2023). "Eye Infections". The New England Journal of Medicine. 389 (25): 2363–2375. doi:10.1056/NEJMra2216081. PMID 38118024. S2CID 266433325.