Conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye, is an inflammation or infection of the conjunctiva that lines the eyelid and covers the white part of the eye. It can be caused by viruses, bacteria, allergies, chemicals, or foreign objects in the eye. Symptoms include redness, itching, tearing, discharge, and pain. Treatment depends on the cause - antibiotics for bacterial infections, antihistamines for allergies, or home remedies for viral pink eye. Good hygiene is important to prevent the spread of the contagious infection.

1. CONJUNCTIVITIS

2. DEFINITION
• Conjunctivitis is an inflammation or infection of the
transparent membrane (conjunctiva) that lines the
eyelid and covers the white part of the eyeball.
• When small blood vessels in the conjunctiva become
inflamed, they're more visible. This is what causes the
white of the eyes to appear reddish or pink.
• Also known as “pink eye”

3. RISK FACTORS
• Exposure to something for which the person have
an allergy (allergic conjunctivitis)
• Exposure to someone infected with the
viral or bacterial form of conjunctivitis
• Using contact lenses

4. CAUSES
• Viruses
• Bacteria
• Allergies
• A chemical splash in the eye
• A foreign object in the eye
• In newborns, a blocked tear duct

5. TYPES
Viral and bacterial conjunctivitis
• Viral conjunctivitis and bacterial conjunctivitis may affect one or
both eyes.
• Viral conjunctivitis usually produces a watery discharge.
Bacterial conjunctivitis often produces a thicker, yellow-
green discharge.
• Both viral and bacterial conjunctivitis can be associated with
colds or with symptoms of a respiratory infection, such as a sore
throat.

6. • Both viral and bacterial types are very
contagious. They are spread through direct or
indirect contact with the eye secretions of
someone who's infected.
• Adults and children alike can develop both of
these types of pink eye. However, bacterial
conjunctivitis is more common in children than it
is in adults.

7. Allergic conjunctivitis
• Allergic conjunctivitis affects both eyes and is a
response to an allergy-causing substance such as
pollen. In response to allergens, the body produces
an antibody called immunoglobulin E (IgE).
• Most allergic conjunctivitis can be controlled with
allergy eyedrops.

8. Conjunctivitis resulting from irritation
• Irritation from a chemical splash or foreign object
in the eye is also associated with conjunctivitis.
• Sometimes flushing and cleaning the eye is done to
get rid of the chemical or object causing redness
and irritation.

9. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
Microbes enter the eye on contact with infected objects
Inflammation of the eye
Dilation of blood vessels in eye
Swelling, redness, exudates and discharge

10. SYMPTOMS
• Pain
• Redness in one or both eyes
(hyperemia)
• Itchiness in one or both eyes
• A discharge in one or both eyes
that forms a crust during the
night that may prevent your eye
or eyes from opening in the
morning i.e. exudation
• Tearing
• Photophobia
• Dropping of upper eye lid
• Periorbital cellulitis
• Fever
• Sore throat
• Runny nose
• A gritty feeling in one or
both eyes

11. TESTSAND DIAGNOSIS
• To determine whether the patient have pink eye, the
doctor will examine the eyes.
• The doctor may also take a sample of eye secretions
from the conjunctiva for laboratory analysis if the
patient have a very severe case of conjunctivitis, if the
corneas are affected or if the person've had repeated
infections that aren't responding to treatment.

12. TREATMENTS AND DRUGS
TREATMENT FOR BACTERIAL CONJUNCTIVITIS
• If the infection is bacterial, the doctor may prescribe
antibiotic eye drops as pink eye treatment, and the
infection should go away within several days.
• Antibiotic eye ointment, in place of eye drops, is
sometimes prescribed for treating bacterial pink eye in
children.

13. • An ointment is often easier to administer to an infant or
young child than are eye drops, though the ointment may blur
vision for up to 20 minutes after application.
• With either form of medication, expect signs and symptoms
to start getting better in a few days.
• Follow the doctor's instructions and use the antibiotics for
the complete period prescribed to prevent recurrence of the
infection.

14. TREATMENT FOR VIRAL CONJUNCTIVITIS
• There is no treatment for most cases of viral conjunctivitis.
Instead, the virus needs time to run its course — up to two or
three weeks. Viral conjunctivitis often begins in one eye and
then infects the other eye within a few days. The signs and
symptoms should gradually clear on their own.
• Antiviral medications may be an option if the doctor
determines that the viral conjunctivitis is caused by the
herpes simplex virus.

15. TREATMENT FOR ALLERGIC CONJUNCTIVITIS
• If the irritation is allergic conjunctivitis, the doctor may
prescribe one of many different types of eye drops for people
with allergies.
• These may include medications that help control allergic
reactions, such as antihistamines or drugs that help control
inflammation, such as steroids and anti-inflammatory drops.
• The patient may also reduce the severity of allergic
conjunctivitis symptoms by avoiding whatever causes the
allergies when possible.

16. LIFESTYLE AND HOME REMEDIES
• Apply a compress to the eyes.
• Try eye drops.
• Stop wearing contact lenses.
• Reduce exposure to light.
• Prevent rubbing of the eye.
• Clean the eye using sterile water and cotton swabs, from inner
canthus to outer canthus.
• Use of dark sunglasses is advised, in presence of photophobia.

17. PREVENTION
• Preventing the spread of pink eye
• Practice good hygiene to control the spread of pink eye. For instance:
• Don't touch your eyes with your hands.
• Wash your hands often.
• Use a clean towel and washcloth daily.
• Don't share towels or washcloths.
• Change your pillowcases often.
• Don’t use eye cosmetics, such as mascara.
• Don't share eye cosmetics or personal eye care items.
• Although pink eye symptoms may resolve in three or four days, children with viral
conjunctivitis may be contagious for a week or more. Children may return to school
when they no longer experience tearing and redness of eyes.

18. FAMILY TEACHING
• Prevent transmission of infection.
• Use of good hand washing after touching the eye.
• Use separate towel, sheet and pillow case foe infected
child.
• Do not allow the medicine dropper to touch the child’s
eyes during medication instillation.
• Discard old contact lenses and use new ones after
infection has resolved.