Conjunctivitis; Definition, Causes, Signs and Symptoms, Diagnosis, Prevention, Nursing Management, Treatment, Complication of Conjunctivitis.

 

Conjunctivitis

Definition of conjunctivitis:

 

Conjunctivitis also known as pinky eye is an inflammation or swelling of the conjunctiva. The conjunctiva is the thin transparent layer of tissue that lines the inner surface of the eyelid and covers the white part of the eye.

 

 

Causes of conjunctivitis:

 

 The most common causes of conjunctivitis are available here…..according to types:

1.    Virus

2.    Bacterial infection

3.    Allergies

4.    Irritation and dryness

5.    Chemicals

6.    autoimmune

 

 

Signs and Symptoms:

 

1.    Red or pink eye.

2.    Swelling of the conjunctiva.

3.    Watering of the eyes.

4.    The pupils normally reactive.

5.    Visual acuity normal.

6.    Irritation and redness of the conjunctiva.

 

 

Diagnosis of conjunctivitis:

 

1.    Corneal abrasion

2.    Subconjunctival hemorrhage

3.    Dry eyes

4.    Keratitis

5.    Herpes simplex

6.    Herpes zoster

7.    Uveitis

8.    Episcleritis (inflammation)

 

 

Prevention of conjunctivitis:

 

1.    Maintain good hygiene

2.    Avoid rubbing the eyes with infected hands

3.    Vaccination against adenovirus, haemophilus influenza, pneumococcus and Neisseria meningitides

4.    Povidone-iodine eye solution

 

 

Management of Conjunctivitis:

 

v Nursing Management:

1.    Instruct the patient and family about the importance of good personal hygiene to prevent the spread of infection.      

2.    Warn against rubbing the infected eye. Which can spread the infection to the other eye and to other persons.     

3.    Apply warm compresses and antibiotic drops or ointment as ordered.

4.    Leach the patient and family to instill eye drops and ointment correctly, without touching the bottle tip to his eyes.

5.    Instruct them to instill medication in the unaffected eye first to prevent cross contamination.    

6.    Stress the importance of safety glasses or the patient who works near chemical irritants.

7.    Recommend dark glasses for photophobia.

8.    The nurse should refer all persons with red eyes to an ophthalmologist for assessment as not all red eves are cases of ’conjunctivitis”.

9.    Instruct the patient to sleep on the side of infected eye so as to prevent spread of infection to unaffected eye.

10.In viral conjunctivitis, teach the patient to prevent spread the infection.

 

 

v Treatment of conjunctivitis:

 

1.    Viral:   Antihistamines e.g. diphenhydramine, Mast cell stabilizers. E.g. cromolyn, Povidone iodine.

 

2.    Bacterial: topical Antibiotics, e.g: fluoroquinolones, sodium sulfacetamide.

 

 

3.    Allergic: NSAID and Antihistamines, Topical sreroid drops.

 

 

Complication:

 

Complication of conjunctivitis are rare, but when they do occur they can be serious and include-

 

1.   A severe case of allergic conjunctivitis can lead to scarring in the eye.

2.   In cases of infective conjunctivitis the infection can spread to other areas of the body, triggering more serious secondary infection, such as meningitis.