Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the conjunctiva which is usually caused by infection or allergy. It is frequently referred to as pink eye and is the most common acute eye disorder seen by primary care pediatricians and family physicians.
Allergic conjunctivitis is characterized by ocular redness and itching.
The condition is often recurrent, and seasonal. Children who have allergic conjunctivitis often have a history of other atopic diseases, particularly allergic rhinitis, eczema or asthma. Infectious conjunctivitis may be bacterial or viral. Bacterial conjunctivitis is twice as common as viral conjunctivitis. Typically in bacterial conjunctivitis the eye is red, there is a purulent discharge, the affected child is often a pre-schooler and there may be an associated otitis media.