The Symptoms of Conjunctivitis
What are the symptoms of conjunctivitis?
Bacterial Conjunctivitis
It is a condition that affects both eyes. Normally, there is a feeling of grittiness in the eyes with a sticky discharge. Both eyes are red and often the presence of abundant secretion, which dries overnight, the eye opening difficult to awaken.
Viral Conjunctivitis
In this type of conjunctivitis, there is less pruritus (itching), which in bacteria, no other abundant viscous secretion and tearing. Subconjunctival hemorrhage may occur and be associated with general symptoms (fever, muscle aches, sore throat …). Sometimes, there are lymph nodes in the neck and pain in the area that lies ahead of the ears. Herpes infection is accompanied by the typical rash of this disease in the periocular area.Chlamydia conjunctivitis
Courses with little pruritus (itching) and abundant tears. Both eyes are red with a sticky discharge. The cornea may also be involved in this disease.
Allergic conjunctivitis
Allergic conjunctivitis is associated usually with intense itching in the eyes with moderate watering and lack of secretion. It can appear in specific times of the year, for example in spring and summer, when there is a lot of pollen in the air.
Conjunctivitis in children
Conjunctivitis that appear in the first 30 days of life are called neonatal conjunctivitis. In this first month of life is very important to pay attention to these processes, since its consequences can be serious. This type of conjunctivitis (ophthalmia neonatorum) may be due to an infection contracted during the passage through the birth canal and may be due to chlamydial or gonococcal infection. The gonococcal or chlamydial infections are a medical emergency, so you must consult a specialist.
Within 24 hours of life Irritant conjunctivitis may occur by the “Crede prophylaxis,” which involves the application of silver nitrate into the eyes of newborns to prevent gonococcal eye infection, the irritation subsides spontaneously box 2-4 days. During the first months of life can often repeated conjunctival infections, usually unilateral, characterized by intense tearing and the presence of dried yellow secretions, this picture is due to an obstruction of the lacrimal canal.
credit to: Dr. Francisco Javier MartÃnez Saborido, Dr. Per Lykke Gregersen, Dra. Caroline MacEwen