Conjunctivitis

Question 1

Define Conjunctivitis?

Answer 1

Inflammation of the conjunctiva

Question 2

What is Keratoconjunctivitis?

Answer 2

Associated inflammation of the cornea

Question 3

What is blepharoconjunctivitis?

Answer 3

Associated eye lid involvement

Question 4

What are the two Infectious causes of Conjunctivitis?

Answer 4

Viral

Bacterial

Question 5

What is the Non-Infectious aetiology of Conjunctivitis?

Answer 5

Allergic
Mechanical/irritative/toxic
Immune-mediated
Neoplastic

Question 6

What is another risk factor of Conjunctivitis?

Answer 6

Use of contact lenses

Question 7

What is the epidemiology of Conjunctivitis?

Answer 7

WORLDWIDE distribution
Affects any age group
No gender, ethnic or social preponderance

Question 8

What are the presenting symptoms of Conjunctivitis?

Answer 8

Red eye (usually generalised and often bilateral)
Irritation, discomfort and grittiness
Discharge (may be watery, mucoid, sticky or purulent depending on cause)
Photophobia (suggest corneal involvement)
Visual acuity usually unaltered

Question 9

What are the signs of Conjunctivitis on physical examination?

Answer 9

Conjunctival injection (i.e blood shot eyes)
Dilated conjunctival vessels
Conjunctival chemosis (swell of the conjunctiva)
Conjunctival follicles (round collections of lymphocytes appearing as small dome-shaped nodules)
Conjunctival papillae (associated with allergic immune response)

Question 10

What investigations would you do for Conjunctivitis?

Answer 10

Diagnosis is usually made following history and examination

Further investigations are performed by specialists