Conjunctivitis - Description

Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the conjunctiva. The condition is very common since the conjunctiva is exposed to many substances that can cause infection or an allergic reaction. Conjunctivitis can be either acute or chronic. An acute condition is one that flares up suddenly and lasts a fairly short time. A chronic condition is one that lasts for a long time, usually many years.

Conjunctivitis can affect one or both eyes. If caused by an infection, it can usually be transmitted to other people quite easily. The disease is very common among children in day care or schools. In such settings, children come into close contact with each other and conjunctivitis spreads quickly throughout the group. The disease is also known by the name of pink eye or red eye. These names come from the physical appearance of the eye as a result of conjunctivitis.