By Dr. Ria Teresita Pinlac-Maslog, MD, FPPS
Understanding Conjunctivitis
What is conjunctivitis?
This is an inflammation of the conjunctiva and is characterized as hyperemia of the superficial blood vessels of the bulbar and palpebral conjunctiva.
The causes of conjunctivitis can be divided into four etiologic types and these are:
1. Bacterial
2. Viral
3. Allergic
4. Granulomatous
Bacterial conjunctivitis has mucoid, mucopurulent or purulent discharge. The purulent conjunctivitis of the newborn belongs under this group and is caused by N.gonorrhea, Staphylococcus aureus or Chlamydia oculogenitalis. This bacterial conjunctivitis improves with topical application of antibiotics.
Viral conjunctivitis produces tearing but no discharge. This has no specific treatment except for the alleviation of symptoms with cold compresses and oral decongestants. Viral conjunctivitis have a self limited course of 1-2 weeks.
Allergic conjunctivitis has syrupy discharges and chemosis. This is similar in nature to contact dermatitis. Cold compresses with decongestants, antihistamines and steroids are important in the management.
Granulomatous conjunctivitis will show localized nodules or ulcers. The patient is best seen by the opthalmologists for proper treatment.
Granulomatous conjunctivitis will show localized nodules or ulcers. The patient is best seen by the opthalmologists for proper treatment.
There is a kind of conjunctivitis particularly common in malnourished children and that is phylyctenular conjunctivitis. In this type, there is a localized nodule with an excavated summit in the bulbar conjunctiva surrounded by redness. This is believed to be a cell-mediated immune response to tuberculoprotein. Topical steroids are of great help in this condition.