COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF CONJUNCTIVITIS: ETIOLOGY, DIAGNOSIS, CLINICAL DIFFERENTIATION, AND EVIDENCE-BASED MANAGEMENT HOSPITAL-BASED OBSERVATIONAL CLINICAL STUDY
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Keywords
Conjunctivitis, viral conjunctivitis, bacterial conjunctivitis, allergic conjunctivitis, conjunctival hyperemia, ocular inflammation
Abstract
Background: Conjunctivitis is one of the most common ocular conditions encountered in ophthalmic practice. It may result from infectious, allergic, toxic, or other inflammatory causes. Accurate clinical differentiation is important because management varies according to the underlying etiology [1–4].
Aim: To evaluate the clinical profile, etiological pattern, diagnostic features, and management of conjunctivitis among patients attending an ophthalmology department.
Materials and Methods: A hospital-based observational study was conducted in the Department of Ophthalmology, MECC Hospital, Bidar, Karnataka, from January 2025 to April 2025. A total of 30 patients clinically diagnosed with conjunctivitis were included. Detailed history and comprehensive ophthalmological examination were performed. Patients were assessed for symptoms, laterality, type of discharge, conjunctival findings, associated ocular symptoms, and probable etiology. Management was individualized according to the clinical diagnosis.
Results: Among the 30 patients, infectious conjunctivitis constituted the major clinical group, followed by allergic conjunctivitis. Viral conjunctivitis commonly presented with redness, watering and foreign-body sensation, whereas bacterial conjunctivitis was more commonly associated with mucopurulent discharge and eyelid crusting. Allergic conjunctivitis was characterized predominantly by itching, watering and conjunctival congestion. Most patients responded well to appropriate conservative or medical treatment.
Conclusion: Conjunctivitis has a broad etiological spectrum and may present with overlapping clinical features. Careful history and clinical examination remain the cornerstone of diagnosis. Recognition of characteristic features such as itching, type of discharge, laterality and associated systemic symptoms helps differentiate the major clinical types and facilitates appropriate evidence-based treatment.
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