What Diseases Can Cause Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)

Overview

Conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye, is inflammation that occurs in the conjunctiva of the eye. The conjunctiva is a thin layer of tissue that covers the whites of the eyes and the inside of the eyelids. When it becomes inflamed, the edges of the whites of the eyes become red and irritated.

There are several diseases that can cause or are associated with conjunctivitis, including:

• Viral Infections: Viruses are the most common cause of pink eye. Viral conjunctivitis often develops from hand-to-eye contact where the hand is contaminated with a virus. This may occur when people have:
  • A respiratory illness, like a cold or flu.
  • Viral diseases where there may be contact with open sores that contain virus, like herpes simplex, chicken pox or varicella (including shingles), and measles.
  • Gastrointestinal viral infection (enterovirus infection).
• Bacterial Infections: Bacteria are one of the main causes of pink eye. Bacterial conjunctivitis may be spread by hand-to-eye contact, eye contact with an object contaminated with bacteria, eye-to-genital contact, or respiratory droplet contact with the eye. This may occur when people have:
• A respiratory or sinus infection with Hemophilus influenzae or Streptococcus pneumoniae, such as sinusitis, bronchitis, epiglottitis, or pneumonia.
• Sexually transmitted infection with Neisseria gonorrhoeae (gonorrhea) or Chlamydia trachomatis.
• Allergic conditions: While not caused by the condition, people with allergic conjunctivitis often have conditions such as hay fever, asthma, and eczema.

• Systemic Conditions: Underlying health conditions such as reactive arthritis and rosacea can cause conjunctivitis. These conditions can lead to chronic inflammation of the eyes.

It's important to note that while home remedies or over-the-counter medication may provide temporary relief for certain types of conjunctivitis symptoms, it's always best to consult a doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment recommendations tailored to your specific situation.