Background
- Inflammation of the conjunctiva
Etiology
- Viral
- Adenovirus, which can also cause the more invasive epidemic keratoconjunctivitis
- Herpes simplex virus
- Other: variola virus, vaccinia virus, varicella-zoster virus, rubella virus, measles virus, influenza virus, Epstein-Barr virus
- Bacterial
- Non-infectious
- Allergy
- Chemical irritation
Clinical Manifestations
- Red, itchy, watery eye or eyes
- If painful, suggests keratoconjunctivitis (involvement of cornea)
- Discharge tends to be more purulent in bacterial causes
- May have preauricular lymphadenopathy, especially in viral causes, Chlamydia, and Neisseria
