What causes adenoviral conjunctivitis?

Viral conjunctivitis is highly contagious. Most viruses that cause conjunctivitis spread through hand-to-eye contact by hands or objects that are contaminated with the infectious virus. Having contact with infectious tears, eye discharge, fecal matter, or respiratory discharges can contaminate hands.

How is adenoviral conjunctivitis treated?

Treatment of adenoviral conjunctivitis is supportive. Patients should be instructed to use cold compresses and lubricants, such as chilled artificial tears, for comfort. Topical vasoconstrictors and antihistamines may be used for severe itching but generally are not indicated.

What are the symptoms of bacterial conjunctivitis?

Symptoms

  • Pink or red color in the white of the eye(s)
  • Swelling of the conjunctiva (the thin layer that lines the white part of the eye and the inside of the eyelid) and/or eyelids.
  • Increased tear production.
  • Feeling like a foreign body is in the eye(s) or an urge to rub the eye(s)
  • Itching, irritation, and/or burning.

Do I need antibiotics for conjunctivitis?

Since conjunctivitis is usually viral, antibiotics won’t help, and may even cause harm by reducing their effectiveness in the future or causing a medication reaction. Instead, the virus needs time to run its course — up to two or three weeks.

What are the best eye drops for infection?

A bacterial eye infection is treated with specific antibiotic eye infection medication. Depending on the type of bacterial infection, a physician might prescribe eye infection drops such as sodium sulfacetamide and azithromycin or ointments such as bacitracin, neomycin or erythomycin.

Are bacterial eye infections contagious?

Bacterial and viral conjunctivitis are both highly contagious, and you may be contagious for up to two weeks after symptoms first appear. Allergic conjunctivitis is not contagious. Most cases of pink eye are viral or bacterial, and can occur with other infections.

Is bacterial conjunctivitis and blepharitis related?

Chronic bacterial conjunctivitis is most commonly caused by Staphylococcus species , although other bacteria are occasionally involved. This type of conjunctivitis often develops in association with blepharitis, which is a common but often unrecognized inflammatory condition related to bacterial colonization of the eyelid margins.

What is acute conjunctivitis?

Acute conjunctivitis is an infection or irritation of the conjunctiva. Treatment for acute conjunctivitis depends on its cause. Those infected with acute conjunctivitis, commonly called pink eye, can reduce the chance of spreading the virus by regularly washing their hands.