Eye Discomfort
Scenario: An 18-year-old woman is being seen in the clinic and reports that she suspects that she has contracted “pink eye” from the child she babysits. The patient denies a history of conjunctivitis. The patient has a history of environmental allergies but otherwise negative medical history. The patient normally wears contact lenses but is currently wearing glasses due to the discomfort.
What characteristics would the patient likely describe if the conjunctivitis is caused by a bacterial infection?
What objective symptoms will the patient likely exhibit?
What are the differential diagnoses for the patient?
What symptoms, if present, would indicate the need to have another professional perform a dilated pupil exam?
What treatment should be prescribed for the patient’s bacterial conjunctivitis? Include full prescribing information.
What additional patient teaching should be included?
Please be sure to validate your opinions and ideas with citations and references in APA format.
