Final answer:
The causative agent of conjunctivitis can be either bacterial or viral. Bacterial conjunctivitis is characterized by inflammation of the conjunctiva and sticky fluid discharge. Viral conjunctivitis produces a watery discharge and is highly contagious.
Step-by-step explanation:
The causative agent of conjunctivitis can be either bacterial or viral.
Bacterial conjunctivitis is most commonly caused by Haemophilus influenzae, but can also be caused by other species such as Moraxella catarrhalis, S. pneumoniae, and S. aureus. It is characterized by inflammation of the conjunctiva and sticky fluid discharge. Bacterial conjunctivitis is highly contagious and usually resolves within a few days with or without treatment.
Viral conjunctivitis is commonly associated with colds caused by adenoviruses and produces a watery discharge. It is contagious and can easily spread from one eye to the other or to other individuals through contact with eye discharge. Antibiotics are ineffective in treating viral conjunctivitis, and symptoms usually resolve within a week or two without treatment.