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Conjunctivitis, also known as "pink eye," is an inflammation of the conjunctiva of the eye. The conjunctiva is the membrane that lines the inside of the eye and also a thin membrane that covers the actual eye.
There are many bacterial and viral causes of conjunctivitis. Common bacterial causes include Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenza, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria gonorrhea and Chlamydia trachomatis. Common viral causes include adenoviruses and herpes virus. Conjunctivitis can also be caused by chemicals (seen mostly in the newborn period, after the use of medicine in the eye to prevent other problems) and allergies.
Conjunctivitis is usually divided into at least two categories, newborn conjunctivitis and childhood conjunctivitis, with different causes and treatments for each.
The most common causes and treatment options of newborn conjunctivitis are:
Childhood conjunctivitis is a swelling of the conjunctiva and may also include an infection. It is a very common problem in children. Also, large outbreaks of conjunctivitis are often seen in daycare settings or schools. The following are the most common causes of childhood conjunctivitis:
Symptoms may include:
The symptoms of conjunctivitis may resemble other medical conditions or problems. Always consult your child's physician for a diagnosis.
Conjunctivitis is usually diagnosed based on a complete medical history and physical examination of your child's eye. Cultures of the eye drainage are usually not required but may be done to help confirm the cause of the infection.
Specific treatment depends on the underlying cause of conjunctivitis:
Infection can be spread from one eye to the other, or to other people, by touching the affected eye or drainage from the eye. Proper hand washing is very important. Drainage from the eye is contagious for 24 to 48 hours after beginning treatment.
If you’d like to request an appointment with one of our specialists, call 1.800.543.7362 (1.800.KIDS DOC®).