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Table 1 Comparison of key clinical characteristics between viral, bacterial and self-inflicted conjunctivitis

From: Clinical and public health management of conjunctivitis in the Israel Defense Forces

Clinical characteristics/Etiology

Bacterial

Viral

Self-inflicted

Duration

Can be prolonged without treatment. Treatment hastens recovery

Days to weeks

Can be prolonged. Weeks to months

Bilateral/unilateral

Usually spreads to the other eye within days

Usually spreads to the other eye within days

Varies

Type of discharge

Mostly purulent discharge

Mostly aqueous, possibly mucoid discharge

Tearing and excessive discharge, fresh and dry purulent discharge on eyelids and periorbital skin

Swollen lymph glands

Not common

Common

Not common

Concomitant signs

None

Pyrexia , pharyngitis

Emotional or social stress, multiple physical complaints

Complications

Uncommon

Uncommon

Uncommon

Additional findings

Ocular irritation

Diffuse conjunctival involvement. Foreign body sensation

Mainly involvement of the lower conjunctiva. Discharge and edema are conspicuously prominent in relation to the conjunctival hyperemia

Response to treatment

Usually subsides without treatment.

Usually subsides without treatment.

Non-responsive to treatment

Responds well to antibiotics

Epidemiological characteristics

Contagious. Can lead to an outbreak

Very contagious. Can lead to an outbreak

Rarely the cause of an outbreak. Is usually diagnosed in a single soldier for secondary gain and not in a cluster