Conjunctivitis

Question 1

what is the conjunctiva

Answer 1

a mucous membrane which covers the eye and protects it

Question 2

def

Answer 2

inflammation of the conjunctiva

Question 3

aetiology

Answer 3

there are four main causes
1 bacteria (most common)
2 viral
3 chlamydial
4 allergic

Question 4

what are the main symptoms of bacterial conjunctivitis

Answer 4

red
sticky
gritty

Question 5

what are the main symptoms of viral conjunctivitis

Answer 5

red
watery
gritty

Question 6

what are the main symptoms of chlamydial conjunctivitis

Answer 6

red

persistant discharge

Question 7

what are the main symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis

Answer 7

red
itchy
swelling

Question 8

what would you expect of visual acuity in conjunctivitis

Answer 8

should be normal or near normal

Question 9

which types of conjunctivitis would you expect to see preauricular lymphadenopathy

Answer 9

viral and chlamydial

Question 10

epi

Answer 10

affects male and females of all ages
bacterial conjunctivitis is more common in children
viral conjunctivitis is more common in adults

Question 11

what causes bacterial conjunctivitis

Answer 11

staph epidermidis
staph aureus
h. influenzae (common in children)

Question 12

history + examination of bacterial conjunctivitis

Answer 12

red
sticky
gritty

Question 13

investigations of bacterial conjunctivitis

Answer 13

for patients with severe or recurrent conjunctivitis, take conjunctival swabs for culture sensitivities

Question 14

what are causes of viral conjunctivitis

Answer 14

adenovirus

Question 15

history + examination of viral conjunctivitis

Answer 15

red
watery
gritty

Question 16

investigations of viral conjunctivitis

Answer 16

conjunctival swabs to determine viral antigen and therefore the virus

Question 17

what causes chlamydial conjunctivitis

Answer 17

chlamydia trachomatis

Question 18

how is chlamydia trachomatis transmitted

Answer 18

sexually transmitted (common in young adults)

Question 19

history + examination of chlamydial conjunctivitis

Answer 19

slower onset, which is unilateral or bilateral

red
persistant discharge

associated with cervicitis in females and urethritis in males

Question 20

investigations in chalmydial conjunctivitis

Answer 20

conjunctival swabs for immunofluorescent staining

Question 21

aetiology of allergic conjunctivitis

Answer 21

due to Type 1 hypersensitivity reactions to airborne allergens (seasonal such as pollen, or perennial such as animal fur and the house dust mite)

Question 22

history + examination of allergic conjunctivitis

Answer 22

history of atopy
red
itchy
swelling

Question 23

investigations of allergic conjunctivitis

Answer 23

conjunctival swabs

IgE levels

Question 24

what might happen to the eyelids in the morning with conjunctivitis

Answer 24

they might be stuck together

Question 25

risk factors

Answer 25

exposure to infected person
environmental allergens
swimming pools