Bacterial conjunctivitis

Eyes are precious to each of us because they can help us see how wonderful the outside world is and allow us to see through the whole world. But the eyes are fragile and can be easily damaged if not properly protected. The bacterial conjunctivitis we are talking about today is also a type of injury. The main cause is bacterial infection, which leads to inflammation of the conjunctiva.

Bacterial conjunctivitis is quite common in our daily life, because many people like to rub their eyes with their hands. In fact, this behavior is incorrect, because it can bring bacteria from the hands into the eyes and infect the conjunctiva.

Acute catarrhal conjunctivitis

Clinical manifestations

1. The incubation period is 1-3 days, and the disease occurs acutely, with both eyes becoming ill at the same time or 1-2 days apart. The patient feels itching and a foreign body sensation, followed by burning, photophobia, and difficulty opening the eyelids due to swelling. Sometimes due to excessive secretion, vision becomes blurred and halo appears. After the secretion is removed, vision is restored immediately.

2. The secretions are mucous or mucopurulent, and may adhere to the eyelid margin and eyelashes, closing the palpebral fissure in the morning. In severe cases, the fibrin in the secretions coagulates into a milky white pseudomembrane that adheres to the surface of the tarsal conjunctiva and can be easily peeled off with tweezers, leaving a slight bleeding surface but no tissue defect. During examination, it should be distinguished from true membrane, which is grayish yellow in color and caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae. It is formed by the condensation of a large amount of fibrin and necrotic conjunctiva. It is not easy to peel off. If it is forcibly removed, the ulcer surface will be exposed underneath, causing bleeding and tissue damage. It is clinically called membranous conjunctivitis.

3. Conjunctival hyperemia, most obvious in the palpebral conjunctiva and fornix conjunctiva, sometimes accompanied by conjunctival edema and redness and swelling of the eyelids. Those caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pneumococcus and Haemophilus influenzae often have hemorrhages under the conjunctiva and conjunctival edema.

4. The condition reaches its climax 3-4 days after onset, then gradually improves and heals in about two weeks. It may be complicated by marginal corneal infiltration or ulcer.

Chronic catarrhal conjunctivitis

Clinical manifestations

1. Symptoms: itching, burning, stinging, and foreign body sensation in the affected eye. It is more obvious at night or when reading, and there is a feeling of eye fatigue. The secretion is not much, and is often mucous, which tends to make the eyelids sticky in the morning. Some people also feel dry eyes. The patient's subjective symptoms are often more serious than those found in objective examinations, but some patients do not feel any discomfort.

2. Signs: In mild cases, only the conjunctiva is slightly congested, but in cases where the condition persists for a long time, the lacrimal caruncle and eyelid conjunctiva become slightly thickened, the eyelid margin is slightly congested, and there is white foamy secretion at the canthus during the day.

Gonococcal conjunctivitis

The incubation period of clinical manifestations is 2 to 4 days, and it manifests as acute purulent conjunctivitis. Because the secretions are so abundant and purulent, it is also called pus-leakage eye. The eyelids are swollen and the conjunctiva is edematous. The disease progresses rapidly, reaching a climax in 4 to 5 days and gradually subsiding in 3 to 6 weeks. It may be complicated by corneal ulcers and perforations. Generally, the condition in newborns is milder than that in adults.

The above is an introduction to bacterial conjunctivitis. I believe many people will be alert after reading it. We must take good care of our bodies. If your eyes feel uncomfortable, do not rub them with your hands, because this can easily introduce bacteria into your eyes. If you have any discomfort, you should choose to see an ophthalmologist.