Infectious conjunctivitis is inflammation of the conjunctiva (the membrane that lines the eyelid and covers the white of the eye) usually caused by viruses or bacteria. Which of the following may help distinguish between viral and bacterial conjunctivitis?
A lymph node in front of the ear may be swollen and painful in viral but usually not in bacterial conjunctivitis.
The eye is itchy and painful in viral conjunctivitis but not in bacterial conjunctivitis.
Viral conjunctivitis is not as contagious as bacterial conjunctivitis.
An upper respiratory infection increases the likelihood of a bacterial but not a viral cause.
