Is conjunctivitis the same as pink eye?

Many people do not understand what conjunctivitis or pink eye is. In terms of size, pink eye is a manifestation of conjunctivitis. Therefore, when facing these diseases in life, we must also pay attention to the correct distinction, understand its symptoms, and treat them symptomatically.

1. Pink eye is conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis has the general pathological phenomena of inflammation: swelling, bright red congestion of the conjunctiva, water, foreign body sensation, exudation and infiltration. Commonly known as "pink eye" is infectious conjunctivitis, an acute infectious conjunctivitis that can occur throughout the year, but is more common in spring and summer. Pink eye is an eye disease transmitted through contact. Therefore, the disease is often widely spread in collective units such as kindergartens, schools, hospitals, and factories, causing outbreaks.

2. Conjunctivitis is not necessarily pink eye

Conjunctivitis is divided into two aspects: acute conjunctivitis and chronic conjunctivitis:

1. Acute conjunctivitis. There are two causes of this disease: 1) viral infection, which usually manifests as pink eye; 2) bacterial infection, such as catarrhal conjunctivitis, which is not contagious.

2. Chronic conjunctivitis is caused by allergies and environmental factors. 1) Allergies: flowers, pollen, dust, mold and animals are common causes of eye allergies, such as spring catarrhal conjunctivitis. 2) Environmental factors: air pollution, smog, improper fitting of corneal contact lenses, irritating gases, chemicals, etc. can all cause conjunctivitis, which can affect one or both eyes.

So, pink eye is conjunctivitis, but conjunctivitis is not necessarily pink eye.