What causes Phlyctenular conjunctivitis?

What causes Phlyctenular conjunctivitis?

Phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis is not an infection. It is an immune reaction to bacteria that are on or around the eyes. Some of the bacteria that trigger this disorder are staphylococci, and rarely, tuberculosis, and Chlamydia. This disorder is more common among children.

What is Phlyctenulosis?

Phlyctenulosis is a type IV hypersensitivity response to tuberculous antigen9 and is an uncommon presentation of TB in the eye. Several studies have investigated the prevalence of phlyctenules in TB-infected patients.

What does Phlyctenule mean?

Medical Definition of phlyctenule : a small vesicle or pustule especially : one on the conjunctiva or cornea of the eye.

How is Phlyctenulosis treated?

TREATMENT

  1. Antibacterial. Eyelid hygiene. Ointment to lid margin (i.e. TobraDex) Topical antibiotics initially (i.e. gatifloxacin)
  2. Anti-inflammatory. Topical corticosteroids (i.e. prednisolone 1% q2-q4 hours)
  3. Treat the blepharitis. Eyelid hygiene. Warm compresses. Oral doxycycline (100mg Daily to BID)

Which drugs are used in the treatment of Phlyctenular conjunctivitis?

Treatment. The symptoms of phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis are primarily treated with application of an appropriate corticosteroid eye drop, such as prednisolone acetate (Pred Forte) or loteprednol (Lotemax). Loteprednol is increasingly preferred due to its lower risk of elevating intraocular pressure.

How can you tell the difference between conjunctivitis and keratoconjunctivitis?

Keratoconjunctivitis is when you have both keratitis and conjunctivitis at the same time. Keratitis is inflammation of the cornea, the clear dome that covers the iris and the pupil. Conjunctivitis is inflammation of the conjunctiva.

What is marginal keratitis?

Marginal keratitis is an inflammatory disease of the peripheral cornea, characterized by peripheral stromal infiltrates which are often associated with epithelium break down and ulceration.

Is Schirmer test painful?

Most people consider the test to be mildly irritating or uncomfortable. After the test, people should avoid rubbing their eyes for about 30 minutes. Additionally, they should not wear contact lenses for about 2 hours following the test.

How does phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis affect the cornea?

Phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis is an eye disorder that involves an immune reaction of the cornea (the clear layer in front of the iris and pupil) and conjunctiva (the membrane that lines the eyelids and covers the white of the eye) to bacteria.

How old do you have to be to get phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis?

Phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis is a common cause of pediatric referrals as it occurs primarily in children from 6 months to 16 years old. There is a higher prevalence in females and higher incidence during spring.

What causes an inflammation of the cornea or conjunctiva?

Phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis is a nodular inflammation of the cornea or conjunctiva that results from a hypersensitivity reaction to a foreign antigen. Prior to the 1950s, phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis often presented as a consequence of a hypersensitivity reaction to tuberculin protein due to high prevalence of tuberculosis.

What kind of pain does phlcytenulosis cause in the eye?

The clinical presentation of phlcytenulosis is dependent on the location of the lesion as well as the underlying etiology. Conjunctival lesions may cause only mild to moderate irritation of the eye, while corneal lesions typically may have more severe pain and photophobia.