Question

Conjunctivitis: What populations are at highest risk of contracting the disease? How is the disease diagnosed and are there any groups of people who should be tested?

Answer 1

Conjunctivitis is the infection in the eye membrane: conjunctiva of the eye covering the white part of the eye along with the inner part of the eyelid, characterized by the swelling of the membrane resulting in the redness of the eyes. It is also referred as red or pink eye disease. The persons having seasonal allergic problems get easily conjunctivitis.

Furthermore the populations having contact to infected individuals, having fomite contact, the persons wearing contact lens wear, with history of sinusitis, having immunodeficiency are at highest risk of contracting the disease.

Doctors can diagnose conjunctivitis by the visual inspection of eyes regarding pink or red eye, furthermore to ensure he/she takes sample of the eye liquid by draining it from the eyes by sending the laboratory analysis for culture. People having the occupational exposure to eye allergens are the groups of people frequently requiring testing.