conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the eye. When you have conjunctivitis, your eyes become red and itchy. Your eyelids may also become swollen, your eyes may water, you may find it hard to open them in the morning, and you may also get a runny nose. If you have conjunctivitis, you should see a doctor, who will probably prescribe you some medication, such as eye drops or cream. It can be contagious and, to avoid this, it is very important to wash your hands every time you touch your eyes.

The word conjunctivitis is made up of the word conjunctiva, which is a very thin membrane or skin that covers the inside of the eye lid, and -itis, which in ancient Greek means ‘inflammation’.