Conjunctivitis Flashcards
what is the conjunctiva
a mucous membrane which covers the eye and protects it
def
inflammation of the conjunctiva
aetiology
there are four main causes 1 bacteria (most common) 2 viral 3 chlamydial 4 allergic
what are the main symptoms of bacterial conjunctivitis
red
sticky
gritty
what are the main symptoms of viral conjunctivitis
red
watery
gritty
what are the main symptoms of chlamydial conjunctivitis
red
persistant discharge
what are the main symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis
red
itchy
swelling
what would you expect of visual acuity in conjunctivitis
should be normal or near normal
which types of conjunctivitis would you expect to see preauricular lymphadenopathy
viral and chlamydial
epi
affects male and females of all ages
bacterial conjunctivitis is more common in children
viral conjunctivitis is more common in adults
what causes bacterial conjunctivitis
staph epidermidis
staph aureus
h. influenzae (common in children)
history + examination of bacterial conjunctivitis
red
sticky
gritty
investigations of bacterial conjunctivitis
for patients with severe or recurrent conjunctivitis, take conjunctival swabs for culture sensitivities
what are causes of viral conjunctivitis
adenovirus
history + examination of viral conjunctivitis
red
watery
gritty
investigations of viral conjunctivitis
conjunctival swabs to determine viral antigen and therefore the virus
what causes chlamydial conjunctivitis
chlamydia trachomatis
how is chlamydia trachomatis transmitted
sexually transmitted (common in young adults)
history + examination of chlamydial conjunctivitis
slower onset, which is unilateral or bilateral
red
persistant discharge
associated with cervicitis in females and urethritis in males
investigations in chalmydial conjunctivitis
conjunctival swabs for immunofluorescent staining
aetiology of allergic conjunctivitis
due to Type 1 hypersensitivity reactions to airborne allergens (seasonal such as pollen, or perennial such as animal fur and the house dust mite)
history + examination of allergic conjunctivitis
history of atopy
red
itchy
swelling
investigations of allergic conjunctivitis
conjunctival swabs
IgE levels
what might happen to the eyelids in the morning with conjunctivitis
they might be stuck together
