Conjunctivitis resident survival guide (pediatrics)

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief:

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Conjunctivitis resident survival guide (pediatrics) Microchapters
Overview
Causes
FIRE
Diagnosis
Treatment
Do's
Don'ts

Overview

Conjunctivitis is a commonly encountered disorder in children and adults in both primary care and specialty eye care settings. The predominant causes of infectious conjunctivitis are viral and bacterial pathogens. Infectious conjunctivitis typically presents as a red eye with purulent or watery discharge and is usually self-limiting, but in rare cases can lead to complications such as keratitis and blindness. Conjunctivitis can occur in a newborn during the first month of life which is known as neonatal conjunctivitis or ophthalmia neonatorum with clinical signs of erythema and oedema of the eyelids and the palpebral conjunctivae, purulent eye discharge. The major causes of ophthalmia neonatorum are chemical inflammation, bacterial infection and viral infection.

Causes

Neonatal conjunctivitis

Life Threatening Causes

Most cases of neonatal conjunctivitis are relatively mild, self-limited and will not cause eye damage of any sort. However, if it left untreated it can lead to sight-treathening or even systemic complications.

• Neisseria gonorrhoea
• Chlamydia trachomatis is the most common cause of neonatal conjunctivitis

Common Causes

• Bacterial conjunctivitis
  • Staphylococcus aureus
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae
  • Haemophilus influenzae
  • Escherichia coli
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa

• Viral conjunctivitis
  • Herpes simplex virus (HSV)
  • Varicella zoster virus (VZV)

Conjunctivitis in children

Life Threatening Causes

Most cases of conjunctivitis in children are relatively mild and self-limited, although untreated bacterial conjunctivitis may be associated with complications such as:

• keratitis
• Orbital cellulitis

Common causes

• Bacterial conjunctivitis
  • Haemophilus influenzae is the most common cause
  • Streptococcus pyogenes
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae

• Viral conjunctivitis
  • Adenovirus
  • HSV

FIRE: Focused Initial Rapid Evaluation

A Focused Initial Rapid Evaluation (FIRE) should be performed to identify patients in need of immediate intervention.

Newborn with suspected gonococcal conjunctivitis

❑ An urgent eye swab should be taken ❑ Urgent gram stain should be requested ❑ Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) can also be used ❑ Definitive diagnosis is made by subsequent bacteriological culture or Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT)

❑ Gram-negative intracellular diplococci is highly suggestive of gonococcal conjunctivitis

Further investigation including : ❑ Screening for other STDs in both mothers and neonates ❑ Genital and throat swabs in patients with risk factors

Complete Diagnostic Approach

Neonatal conjunctivitis

Ophthalmia neonatorum is essentially a clinical diagnosis made by observation of signs and symptoms.

Neonate with eye discharge

Take a full history and examine

❑ Bilateral or unilateral red eye ❑ Purulent discharge ❑ Eyelid swelling ❑ Chemosis

No

Yes

❑ Reassure mother ❑ Advise to return if not better

Culture for chlamydia and gonorrhea

Conjunctival swab for ❑ Gram stain ❑ Giemsa stain

Negative

Positive

HSV is suspected

❑ Oral antibiotics ❑ Treat mother and her partner

Conjunctivitis in children

Most cases are diagnosed on the basis of clinical features

Child with acute red eye

Discharge

No discharge

Purulent

Stringy or watery

Other symptoms and signs

Bacterial conjunctivitis

Allergic conjunctivitis or viral conjunctivitis

No

Yes

Trial of topical antibiotics

Advise self-limiting condition

Possible bacterial conjunctivitis

Refer to ophthalmologist

Treatment

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Do's

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Don'ts

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