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Common causes of conjunctivitis include [[bacteria]], [[viruses]], and environmental factors.
Common causes of conjunctivitis include [[bacteria]], [[viruses]], and environmental factors.
[[Viral]] conjunctivitis is the most common cause of infectious conjunctivitis both overall and in the adult population. Bacterial conjunctivitis is the second most common cause and is responsible for the majority (50%-75%) of cases in children. [[Allergic conjunctivitis]] is the most frequent cause, affecting 15% to 40% of the population.
[[Viral]] conjunctivitis is the most common cause of infectious conjunctivitis both overall and in the adult population. Bacterial conjunctivitis is the second most common cause and is responsible for the majority (50%-75%) of cases in children. [[Allergic conjunctivitis]] is the most frequent cause, affecting 15% to 40% of the population.
Noninfectious conjunctivitis includes [[keratoconjunctivitis sicca|keratoconjunctivitis sicca (dry eye syndrome)]] and [[superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis]] may cause by [[inflammation]] secondary to [[immune-mediated]] diseases or mechanical [[irritation]].<ref name="pmid24150468">{{cite journal| author=Azari AA, Barney NP| title=Conjunctivitis: a systematic review of diagnosis and treatment. | journal=JAMA | year= 2013 | volume= 310 | issue= 16 | pages= 1721-9 | pmid=24150468 | doi=10.1001/jama.2013.280318 | pmc=4049531 | url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/elink.fcgi?dbfrom=pubmed&tool=sumsearch.org/cite&retmode=ref&cmd=prlinks&id=24150468  }} </ref>
Noninfectious conjunctivitis includes [[keratoconjunctivitis sicca|keratoconjunctivitis sicca (dry eye syndrome)]] and [[superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis|superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis (SLK)]] may caused by [[inflammation]] secondary to immune-mediated diseases or mechanical [[irritation]].<ref name="pmid24150468">{{cite journal| author=Azari AA, Barney NP| title=Conjunctivitis: a systematic review of diagnosis and treatment. | journal=JAMA | year= 2013 | volume= 310 | issue= 16 | pages= 1721-9 | pmid=24150468 | doi=10.1001/jama.2013.280318 | pmc=4049531 | url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/elink.fcgi?dbfrom=pubmed&tool=sumsearch.org/cite&retmode=ref&cmd=prlinks&id=24150468  }} </ref>


==Differentiating Conjunctivitis from Other Diseases==
==Differentiating Conjunctivitis from Other Diseases==

Revision as of 14:05, 11 July 2016

Conjunctivitis Microchapters

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Overview

Historical Perspective

Classification

Pathophysiology

Causes

Differentiating Conjunctivitis from other Diseases

Epidemiology and Demographics

Risk Factors

Screening

Natural History, Complications and Prognosis

Diagnosis

History and Symptoms

Physical Examination

Laboratory Findings

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Primary Prevention

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [2] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Sara Mehrsefat, M.D. [3]


Overview

Conjunctivitis (con·junc·ti·vi·tis) is an inflammation of the conjunctiva (the outermost layer of the eye and the inner surface of the eyelids), most commonly due to an allergic reaction or an infection (usually bacterial or viral). Conjunctivitis may be classified based on the duration of symptoms into hyperacute, acute or chronic. Additionally, based on the causality of the inflammation and age group, conjunctivitis may be classified into infective conjunctivitis (bacterial and viral), neonatal conjunctivitis (ophthalmia neonatorum), allergic conjunctivitis, keratoconjunctivitis sicca (dry eye syndrome), and superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis. Common causes of conjunctivitis include bacteria, viruses, and environmental factors. Viral conjunctivitis is the most common cause of infectious conjunctivitis both overall and in the adult population. Between 65% and 90% of cases of viral conjunctivitis are caused by adenoviruses. Bacterial conjunctivitis is the second most common cause. Allergic conjunctivitis is the most frequent cause, affecting 15% to 40% of the population. Noninfectious conjunctivitis includes keratoconjunctivitis sicca (dry eye syndrome) and superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis may caused by inflammation secondary to immune-mediated diseases. The conjunctivitis outcome is usually good with treatment. Infective conjunctivitis resolves, in 65% of cases, within 2 – 5 days. Complete history will help determine the correct therapy. The symptoms of conjunctivitis differ based on the cause of the inflammation. Redness, excessive tearing, and irritation are symptoms common to all forms of conjunctivitis. Photophobia, itching, mucopurulent or non-purulent discharge, chemosis, burning eyes, blurred vision and eyelid swelling are variable. Physical examination of patients with conjunctivitis is usually remarkable for conjunctival injections, epiphora, hyperemia, chemosis and muco-purulent or watery discharge. However, ophthalmologic examination may be varies based on conjunctivitis subtypes. Laboratory tests are not often required in patients with mild conjunctivitis. Conjunctival cultures are generally reserved for conjunctivitis presenting with severe purulent discharge, and cases suspicious for gonococcal or chlamydial infection. Allergic conjunctivitis may be treated with artificial tears and topical antihistamines, vasoconstrictive agents, mast cell stabilizers, NSAIDs, and corticosteroids. Cool compresses are recommended to reduce eyelid and periorbital edema. Topical antimicrobial therapy is only recommended for patients with either bacterial or herpetic conjunctivitis, but not allergic or adenoviral conjunctivitis. Systemic antibiotic therapy is necessary to treat conjunctivitis due to neisseria gonorrhoeae and chlamydia trachomatis.

Historical Perspective

Conjunctivitis is an ancient disease. In 1750, neonatal conjunctivitis (ophthalmia neonatorum) was first described by S.T. Quellmaz. In 1883, Koch discovered the bacilli of two different forms of infectious conjunctivitis, or Egyptian ophthalmia.[1][2]

Classification

Conjunctivitis may be classified based on the duration of symptoms into hyperacute, acute or chronic.[3][4] Additionally, based on the causality of the inflammation and age group, conjunctivitis may be classified into infective conjunctivitis (bacterial and viral), neonatal conjunctivitis (ophthalmia neonatorum), allergic conjunctivitis, Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (dry eye syndrome), and superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis (SLK).[5][6]

Pathophysiology

Conjunctivitis is defined as inflammation of bulbar and/or palpebral conjunctiva. Conjunctivitis has many etiologies, but the majority of cases can be caused by allergies, viruses, or bacteria. Viral conjunctivitis, typically caused by adenovirus, is a common, self-limiting condition. Bacterial conjunctivitis has many etiologies, such as Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Corynebacterium, Haemophilus, Pseudomonas, and Moraxella. Allergic conjunctivitis may occur seasonally when pollen counts are high, and this type of conjunctivitis is a common occurrence in people who have other signs of allergic disease. Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (dry eye syndrome) is a multifactorial disease and associated with different medical conditions.[7] [8]

Causes

Common causes of conjunctivitis include bacteria, viruses, and environmental factors. Viral conjunctivitis is the most common cause of infectious conjunctivitis both overall and in the adult population. Bacterial conjunctivitis is the second most common cause and is responsible for the majority (50%-75%) of cases in children. Allergic conjunctivitis is the most frequent cause, affecting 15% to 40% of the population. Noninfectious conjunctivitis includes keratoconjunctivitis sicca (dry eye syndrome) and superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis (SLK) may caused by inflammation secondary to immune-mediated diseases or mechanical irritation.[7]

Differentiating Conjunctivitis from Other Diseases

Conjunctivitis symptoms and signs are relatively non-specific. Even after biomicrosopy, laboratory tests are often necessary to determine the underlying pathophysiology with certainty. perform an eye examination can help to differentiating conjunctivitis from other medical conditions.[9][10]

Epidemiology and Demographics

Conjunctivitis accounts for 1% of all primary care and emergency room visits. The prevalence of conjunctivitis varies according to the underlying cause, which may be influenced by the patient’s age, as well as the season of the year.[11]

Risk Factors

People who are exposed to someone infected with the viral or bacterial form of conjunctivitis are at risk for developing conjunctivitis. Additionally, babies born to mothers infected with either Neisseria gonorrhoeae or Chlamydia trachomatis are at an increased risk for conjunctivitis. During delivery, these babies can contract ophthalmia neonatorum, a form of bacterial conjunctivitis when their eyes are exposed to the bacteria in the birth canal. It must be treated immediately to prevent blindness. [12][13]

Screening

Screening for conjunctivitis is not recommended. However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), screening for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) is recommended among pregnant women to prevent conjunctivitis and other medical conditions in newborns.[14]

Natural History, Complications, and Prognosis

The conjunctivitis outcome is usually good with treatment. Infective conjunctivitis resolves, in 65% of cases, within 2 – 5 days. If left untreated. Most cases of viral conjunctivitis are mild and will clear up without any complications. Bacterial conjunctivitis is often self-limited and most patients recover in 1 or 2 weeks, and generally is associated with a favorable long-term prognosis. However, bacterial conjunctivitis associated with extremely pathogenic bacteria, such as chlamydia trachomatisor neisseria gonorrhoeae, is associated with significant morbidity and may result in systemic involvement and mortality. Hyperacute bacterial conjunctivitis is associated with corneal involvement, and therefore it has a poor long term prognosis. Allergic conjunctivitis improves by eliminating or significantly reducing contact with the allergen. If left untreated, most cases of allergic conjunctivitis may resolve without any long-term consequences. Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (dry eye syndrome) is associated with a favorable long-term prognosis. Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (dry eye syndrome) associated with Sjögren's syndrome is associated with a particularly poor prognosis and requiring a longer course of treatment.[15]

Diagnosis

History and Symptoms

Eyes with conjunctivitis

The history establish whether the condition is acute, subacute, chronic or recurrent, and whether it is associated with any specific environmental or work-related exposure. Complete history will help determine the correct therapy. The symptoms of conjunctivitis differ based on the cause of the inflammation. Redness, excessive tearing, and irritation are symptoms common to all forms of conjunctivitis. Photophobia, itching, mucopurulent or non-purulent discharge, chemosis, burning eyes, blurred vision and eyelid swelling are variable.[15]


Physical Examination

Physical examination of patients with conjunctivitis is usually remarkable for conjunctival injections, epiphora, hyperemia, chemosis and muco-purulent or watery discharge. However, ophthalmologic examination may be varies based on conjunctivitis subtypes.

Laboratory Findings

Laboratory tests are not often required in patients with mild conjunctivitis. Conjunctival cultures are generally reserved for cases of suspected infectious neonatal conjunctivitis (ophthalmia neonatorum), recurrent conjunctivitis, conjunctivitis recalcitrant to therapy, conjunctivitis presenting with severe purulent discharge, and cases suspicious for gonococcal or chlamydial infection.[16]

Other imaging findings

There are no other imaging findings associated with conjunctivitis. However, dynamic meibomian imaging (DMI) can be used to obtain a distinct picture of the entire everted inferior tarsal plate in a patient with keratoconjunctivitis sicca (dry eye syndrome).[17]

Other diagnostic studies

Additional available method for the viral conjunctivitis diagnosis, includes rapid antigen testing.[18] Additional available methods for the keratoconjunctivitis sicca (dry eye syndrome) diagnosis, conjunctivitis subtype, include corneal sensation, tear break up time, ocular surface staining, and schirmer's test.[19][20]

Treatment

Medical Therapy

Allergic conjunctivitis may be treated with artificial tears and topical antihistamines, vasoconstrictive agents, mast cell stabilizers, NSAIDs, and corticosteroids. Cool compresses are recommended to reduce eyelid and periorbital edema. Topical antimicrobial therapy is only recommended for patients with either bacterial or herpetic conjunctivitis, but not allergic or adenoviral conjunctivitis. Systemic antibiotic therapy is necessary to treat conjunctivitis due to Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis.

Surgery

Surgical intervention is not recommended for the management of infective and neonatal conjunctivitis. Allergic conjunctivitis is a self-limited disease, and extensive surgery may not be acceptable. However, surgical techniques include superficial keratectomy and penetrating keratoplasty are usually reserved for severe cases of corneal involvement. Despite the availability of efficient tear substitutes, many patients with keratoconjunctivitis sicca (dry eye syndrome) experience severe corneal injuries and a subsequent loss of vision. Surgical techniques include lateral tarsorrhaphy, punctal plugs, lens therapy, amniotic membrane transplantation, and salivary gland duct transposition.[21][22][23][24][25]

Primary Prevention

All conjunctivitis subtypes are not preventable. Good hygiene can help prevent the spread of infective conjunctivitis in all age groups. There are no established method for primary prevention of allergic conjunctivitis, keratoconjunctivitis sicca (dry eye syndrome) and superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis. However, early determination of these conditions is very important in terms of morbidity.[26]

Secondary Prevention

Secondary prevention strategies following conjunctivitis include discontinued contact lens wear (infective conjunctivitis), ocular prophylaxis with 0.5% erythromycin ointment or 1% tetracycline hydrochloride (ophthalmia neonatorum) and avoiding the offending antigen (allergic conjunctivitis). Secondary prevention strategies following keratoconjunctivitis sicca (dry eye syndrome) include avoiding very dry environments, dusty and smoky areas and prolonged visual tasks. There is no established method for secondary prevention of superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis. However, educating patients about disease process can improve compliance of patients with treatment, and help them to cope with the often prolonged symptoms.[26]


References

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  2. Weeks JE (1996). "The bacillus of acute conjunctival catarrh, or 'pink eye'. 1886". Arch Ophthalmol. 114 (12): 1510–1. PMID 8953986.
  3. National Eye Institute (2015). [1] Accessed on June 23, 2016
  4. Blochmichel E, Helleboid L, Corvec MP (1993). "Chronic allergic conjunctivitis". Ocul Immunol Inflamm. 1 (1–2): 9–12. doi:10.3109/09273949309086529. PMID 22827184.
  5. Alfonso SA, Fawley JD, Alexa Lu X (2015). "Conjunctivitis". Prim Care. 42 (3): 325–45. doi:10.1016/j.pop.2015.05.001. PMID 26319341.
  6. Leonardi A, Castegnaro A, Valerio AL, Lazzarini D (2015). "Epidemiology of allergic conjunctivitis: clinical appearance and treatment patterns in a population-based study". Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol. 15 (5): 482–8. doi:10.1097/ACI.0000000000000204. PMID 26258920.
  7. 7.0 7.1 Azari AA, Barney NP (2013). "Conjunctivitis: a systematic review of diagnosis and treatment". JAMA. 310 (16): 1721–9. doi:10.1001/jama.2013.280318. PMC 4049531. PMID 24150468.
  8. Kyei S, Koffuor GA, Ramkissoon P, Abokyi S, Owusu-Afriyie O, Wiredu EA (2015). "Possible Mechanism of Action of the Antiallergic Effect of an Aqueous Extract of Heliotropium indicum L. in Ovalbumin-Induced Allergic Conjunctivitis". J Allergy (Cairo). 2015: 245370. doi:10.1155/2015/245370. PMC 4657065. PMID 26681960.
  9. Leibowitz HM (2000). "The red eye". N Engl J Med. 343 (5): 345–51. doi:10.1056/NEJM200008033430507. PMID 10922425.
  10. American Academy of ophthalmology (2016) http://eyewiki.aao.org/Bacterial_Conjunctivitis Accessed on June 27, 2016
  11. Høvding G (2008). "Acute bacterial conjunctivitis". Acta Ophthalmol. 86 (1): 5–17. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0420.2007.01006.x. PMID 17970823.
  12. Epling J (2010). "Bacterial conjunctivitis". BMJ Clin Evid. 2010. PMC 2907624. PMID 21718563.
  13. Cronau H, Kankanala RR, Mauger T (2010). "Diagnosis and management of red eye in primary care". Am Fam Physician. 81 (2): 137–44. PMID 20082509.
  14. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2015) http://www.cdc.gov/std/tg2015/screening-recommendations.htm Accessed on June 29, 2016
  15. 15.0 15.1 Rose P (2007). "Management strategies for acute infective conjunctivitis in primary care: a systematic review". Expert Opin Pharmacother. 8 (12): 1903–21. doi:10.1517/14656566.8.12.1903. PMID 17696792.
  16. Wood M (1999). "Conjunctivitis: diagnosis and management". Community Eye Health. 12 (30): 19–20. PMC 1706007. PMID 17491982.
  17. Qazi Y, Aggarwal S, Hamrah P (2014). "Image-guided evaluation and monitoring of treatment response in patients with dry eye disease". Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 252 (6): 857–72. doi:10.1007/s00417-014-2618-2. PMC 4038672. PMID 24696045.
  18. Jhanji V, Chan TC, Li EY, Agarwal K, Vajpayee RB (2015). "Adenoviral keratoconjunctivitis". Surv Ophthalmol. 60 (5): 435–43. doi:10.1016/j.survophthal.2015.04.001. PMID 26077630.
  19. Savini G, Prabhawasat P, Kojima T, Grueterich M, Espana E, Goto E (2008). "The challenge of dry eye diagnosis". Clin Ophthalmol. 2 (1): 31–55. PMC 2698717. PMID 19668387.
  20. Beckman KA, Luchs J, Milner MS (2016). "Making the diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome in patients with dry eye". Clin Ophthalmol. 10: 43–53. doi:10.2147/OPTH.S80043. PMC 4699514. PMID 26766898.
  21. Rajak S, Rajak J, Selva D (2015). "Performing a tarsorrhaphy". Community Eye Health. 28 (89): 10–1. PMC 4579993. PMID 26435586.
  22. Baxter SA, Laibson PR (2004). "Punctal plugs in the management of dry eyes". Ocul Surf. 2 (4): 255–65. PMID 17216100.
  23. Khodadoust A, Quinter AP (2003). "Microsurgical approach to the conjunctival flap". Arch Ophthalmol. 121 (8): 1189–93. doi:10.1001/archopht.121.8.1189. PMID 12912699.
  24. Güerrissi JO, Belmonte J (2004). "Surgical treatment of dry eye syndrome: conjunctival graft of the minor salivary gland". J Craniofac Surg. 15 (1): 6–10. PMID 14704553.
  25. Nelson JD (1989). "Superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis (SLK)". Eye (Lond). 3 ( Pt 2): 180–9. doi:10.1038/eye.1989.26. PMID 2695351.
  26. 26.0 26.1 Matejcek A, Goldman RD (2013). "Treatment and prevention of ophthalmia neonatorum". Can Fam Physician. 59 (11): 1187–90. PMC 3828094. PMID 24235191.


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