Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis, or inflammation of the conjunctiva, is a very common affection. Several varieties of conjunctivitis are described. Catarrhal conjunctivitis ("blight") is peculiarly apt to affect children, and is, at any rate in some cases, contagious. The symptoms are photophobia (q.v.) and increased secretion. Purulent conjunctivitis is a much more serious disease in which the whole thickness of the conjunctiva is involved. There is no definite boundary line between severe cases of catarrhal conjunctivitis and slight cases of purulent conjunctivitis, but practically the two affections are sufficiently distinct and not apt to be confused one with another. One variety of purulent conjueictivitis is that which occurs in the new-born infant (ophthalmia neonatorum). If neglected it may lead to complete loss of sight. Other varieties of inflammation affecting the conjunctiva are phlyctenular conjunctivitis and granular lids.