bacterial conjunctivitis: diagnosis and treatment:
🔹 Diagnosis
History
• Symptoms: Redness, purulent/mucopurulent discharge (“eyes stuck
shut” in morning), foreign body sensation, mild irritation.
• Usually starts in one eye, can spread to the other.
• Often no significant pain or vision loss (distinguish from keratitis,
uveitis).
Physical Exam
• Conjunctival injection (diffuse redness).
• Thick, yellow/green discharge that reappears quickly after wiping.
• Eyelid edema, crusting on lashes.
• No corneal involvement (fluorescein staining is normal, unlike
corneal abrasion).
• Preauricular lymphadenopathy usually absent (commoner in viral).
Common Pathogens
• Adults: Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae,
Haemophilus influenzae.
• Children: Haemophilus influenzae, Strep. pneumoniae,
Moraxella catarrhalis.
• Contact lens wearers: Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
🔹 Treatment
1. General Measures
• Frequent handwashing, avoid touching/rubbing eyes.
• Discontinue contact lens use until infection resolves.
• Avoid sharing towels/pillows.
🔹 Diagnosis
History
• Symptoms: Redness, purulent/mucopurulent discharge (“eyes stuck
shut” in morning), foreign body sensation, mild irritation.
• Usually starts in one eye, can spread to the other.
• Often no significant pain or vision loss (distinguish from keratitis,
uveitis).
Physical Exam
• Conjunctival injection (diffuse redness).
• Thick, yellow/green discharge that reappears quickly after wiping.
• Eyelid edema, crusting on lashes.
• No corneal involvement (fluorescein staining is normal, unlike
corneal abrasion).
• Preauricular lymphadenopathy usually absent (commoner in viral).
Common Pathogens
• Adults: Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae,
Haemophilus influenzae.
• Children: Haemophilus influenzae, Strep. pneumoniae,
Moraxella catarrhalis.
• Contact lens wearers: Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
🔹 Treatment
1. General Measures
• Frequent handwashing, avoid touching/rubbing eyes.
• Discontinue contact lens use until infection resolves.
• Avoid sharing towels/pillows.
