conjunctivitis
[kon-junk″tĭ-vi´tis] inflammation of the
conjunctiva; it may be caused by bacteria or a virus, or by allergic, chemical, or physical factors. Its infectious form (of bacterial or viral origin) is highly contagious. See also
pinkeye.
acute contagious conjunctivitis a contagious inflammation of the
conjunctiva caused by
Haemophilus aegypticus; secretions must be handled with extreme care to prevent its spread. Popularly known as
pinkeye.
acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis a highly contagious form due to infection with enteroviruses.
gonococcal conjunctivitis (
gonorrheal conjunctivitis) a severe form caused by infection with gonococci, marked by greatly swollen conjunctivae and eyelids with a profuse purulent discharge. In newborns it is bilateral, acquired from an infected maternal vaginal passage. In adults it is usually unilateral and is acquired by autoinoculation into the eye of other gonococcal infections, such as
urethritis, either in oneself or in another person. Called also
gonorrheal ophthalmia.
inclusion conjunctivitis a type of conjunctivitis primarily affecting newborn infants, caused by a strain of Chlamydia trachomatis, beginning as an acute purulent form and leading to papillary hypertrophy of the palpebral conjunctiva.
Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition. © 2003 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.
Patient discussion about acute contagious conjunctivitis
Q. How to treat a pink eye? I have pink eye in my left eye. It's very uncomfortable, how can I treat it?
A. Here is a link to a website which describes a home treatment for pink eye:
http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/tc/pinkeye-home-treatment
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